
Class. 
Book.. 



10 



GoppglitlS'^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



BEOWULF 



1. TEXT: 



gdltcxt txoxu pi. Jt^tjuje 



BY 



JAMES ALBERT HARRISON, 

'ROFESSOR OF ENGLISH AND MODERN LANGUAGES IN WASHINGTON AND 

Lee University; Author of "A History of Spain," 
"A French Syntax," etc., etc. 



:'^€><c 



>, 



BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED BY GINN, HEATH, & CO. 

1882. 



n 



m 



BEOWULF. SL 



f^' I. TEXT 



^xXitcxX tvom PX. ^i^tjue 



BY 

JAMES ALBERT HARRISON, 

Professor of English and Modern Languages in Washington and 

Lee University; Author of "A History of Spain," 

"A French Syntax," etc., etc. 



3>^C 



cf^..(rv.'y\/ 



BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED BY GINN, HEATH, & CO. 

1882. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 1882, by 

JAMES ALBERT HARRISON", 
in the ofllce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



J. S. CusuiNG & Co., Pkintees, 101 Pearl Stkeet, Boston. 




NOTE. 



rrillE present work, carefully edited from Ileyne's fourth edition, 
-^ (Paderborn, 1S79), is designed primarily for college classes in 
Anglo-Saxon, rather than for independent investigators or for 
seekers after a restored or ideal text. The need of an American 
edition of "Beowulf" has long been felt, as, hitherto, students 
have had either to send to Germany for a text, or secure, with 
great trouble, one of the scarce and exj)ensive English editions. 
Heyne's first edition came out in 1863, and was followed in 1867 
and 1873 by a second and a third edition, all three having essen- 
tially the same text. 

So many impoi-tant contributions to the " Beowulf " literature 
were, however, made between 1873 and 1879 that Ileyne found it 
necessary to put forth a new edition (1879). In this new, last edi- 
tion, the text was subjected to a careful revision, and was fortified 
by the views, contributions, and criticisms of other zealous scholars. 
In it the collation of the unique "Beowulf" Ms. (Vitellius a. 15: 
Cottonian ]\Iss. of the British Museum), as made by E. Kolbing in 
Herrig's Archie (Bd. 56; 1876), was followed wherever the present 
condition of the Ms. had to be discussed ; and the researches of 
Bugge, Rieger, and others, on single passages, were made use of. 
The discussion of the metrical structure of the poem, as occurring 
in the second and third editions, was omitted in the fourth, owing 
to the many controversies in which the subject is still involved. 
The present editor has thought it best to do the same, though, 
hapiuly, the subject of Old English Metrik is undergoing a steady 
illumination through the labors of Schipper and others. 



IV NOTE. 

Some errors and misplaced accents in Heyne's text have been 
corrected in the present edition, in which, as in the general revision 
of the text, the editor has been most kindly aided by Prof. J. M. 
Garnett, late Principal of St. John's College, Maryland. 

In the preparation of the present school edition it has been 
thought best to omit Heyne's notes, as they concern themselves 
principally yviih conjectural emendations, substitutions of one read- 
ing for another, and discussions of the condition of the Ms. Until 
Wiilcker's text and the photographic fac-simile of the original Ms. 
are in the hands of all scholars, it will be better not to introduce 
such matters in the school room, where they would puzzle without 
instructing. 

A Glossary, carefully translated from Heyne by the editor and 
Prof. Robert Sharp of the University of Louisiana, will, it is hoped, 
speedily follow the text as here presented. 

For convenience of reference, the editor has added a head-line to 
each "fit" of the poem, with a view to facilitate a knowledge of its 
episodes. 

Washington and Lee University, 
Lexington, Va., June, 1882. 



DEDICx\TED 



PROFESSOR F. A. MARCH, 



LAFAYETTE COLLEGE, PA. 



BEOWULF. 



3>*:c 



I. The Passing of Scyld. 

TTWAT ! we Gur-Dena in gerir-dagum 
-■--■- pe6d-C3'ninga piym gcfrunon, 
M pd aSelingas ellen fremcdoii. 
Oft Scvld Scefing scoaSeiia preutum, 
5 monegum ina^gSiim meodo-setla oftedh. 
Egsode eorl, sySSan serest wcarS 
fed-sceaft fiinden : he j'iis frofrc gebdd. 
M'eox under wolcnum, weor6-m3'ndum (5dh, 
65 ]K\t him tTghwylc para ymb-sitteudra 

10 ofer hron-rade hyran scolde, 

gomban gyldan : j'iit wiis gud cyning ! 
pam eafera wiis after cenned 
geong in geardnm, pone god sende 
folce t6 frofre ; fyren-]?earfe ongeat, 

15 piit hie a?r drugon aldor-?edse 
lange hwile. Him pas lif-frea, 
wuldres wealdend, worold-i\re forgeaf ; 
Beowulf was breme (bla?d wide sprang), 
Sc3'ldes eafera Scede-landum in. 

20 Swd sceal geong giimti g6de gewyrcean, 
fronium feoh-giftum on fiider ivine, 
piit hine on yide eft gewunigen 
wil-gesi6as, ponne wig cume, 
le6de geUrsten : lof-diedum sceal 

25 in maegSa gehwaere man gepe6n. 
Him pd Scyld gewat to gescap-hwtle 
fela-hror feran on freAn ware ; 
hi hyne pd atbseron t6 brimos faroSe, 



BEOWULF: [29-59. 

swffise gesiSas, swd be selfa bad, 
30 J^endcn wordum we61d wine Sc3'ldinga, 

le6f kmd-friima lange filite. 

pasr at IwSe stod hriuged-stefna, 

Isig and (itfiis, aSelinges far ; 

^-ledon ])k leofiie peoden, 
35 beaga bryttaii on bearm scipes, 

mserne be maste. pser wiis mMma fela, 

of feor-wcgum friitwa geteded : 

ne liyrde ic C3'mlicor ceol gegyrwan 

hilde-wsepnum and heaSo-waedum, 
40 bilUim and b3'rnnm ; him on bearme lag 

madma mlinigo, ]7a him mid scoldon 

on flodes aslit feor gewitan. 

Nalas hi hine liissan lacum te6dan, 

peod-gestreonum, ponne ]'a d3'don, 
45 pe hine lit frnrasceafte forS onsendon 

senne ofer ySe nmbor wesende : 

]74 g3't hie him asetton segen gyldenne 

heah ofer heafod, leton hohn beran, 

ge^fon on gar-seeg : him wiis ge6mor sefa, 
50 mnrnende mud. Men ne cimnon 

secgan to soSe sele rsedenne, 

haleS under heofenum, hw^ ])am hliiste oiifeng. 



II. The Hall Heorot. 

pA was on burgum Be6wulf Sc3-ldinga, 
le6f Ie6d-c3-ning, longe prage 
55 folcum gefrffige (fader ellor hwearf, 
aldor of earde), 65 ]?at him eft onw6c 
heah Healfdene ; he61d ];enden hfde, 
gamol and gCi6-re6w, gUide Sc3'ldingas. 
pam fe6wer beam forS-gerimed 



60-94.] BEOWULF. 

60 in worold wAciin, wcoroda rreswan, 
Ileorogar and Hr6(Ngar and Ilalga til ; 
♦ lijrde ic, J'tit Elan cwen Onrjen]>e6wes was 
HeaSoscilfinges heals-gcbedde. 
pa wiis Hr6?igare here-sped gvfen, 

65 ^vigcs weor^-nivnd, ]uit him his wine-mllgas 
georne hyrdon, 6c) j'iit seo geogo?» geweOx,- 
mago-driht micel. Ilini on mud beam, 
])at heal-rcced hAtan wolde, 
medo-iirn micel men gewyrcean, 

70 j'one yldo beavn a?frc gefrnnon, 
and ]rxv on innan eall geda^lan 
geongum and ealdam. swylc him god sealde, 
bnton folc-scare and feorum gnmena. 
pa ic wide gefriign wcorc gebannan 

75 manigre ma?g5e geond ])isne middan-geard, 
folc-stede friitwan. Him on fyrste gelomp 
adre mid yldum, jnit hit wearS eal gearo, 
heal-iirna ma^st ; sc6p him Heort naman, 
se l^e his wordes geweald wide hilfde. 

80 He be6t ne Tdeh, beiigas da?lde, 
sine tit symle, Sele hlifade 
heah and horn-geap : heaSo-wylma bdd, 
laSan liges ; ne wiis hit lenge pd gen. 
]ixt se ecg-hete A6um-swerian 

85 after wiil-niSe wiicnan scolde. 
pd se ellen-gtiest earfoMice 
])rage gefolode, se j^e in pj'sti'um bdd, 
]5at he dOgora gehwam dredm gehyrde 
hludne in healle ; j'ter wiis hearpan swC'g, 

90 swutol sang sc6pes. Siigde se ]:e ciu^e 
frum-sceaft fira feorran ^-eccan, 
cwiici I iit se iilmihtiga • eorSan worhfe, 
wlite-beorhtne wang, swti witter bebfigeS, 
gesette sige-hre(5ig sunnan and m6nan 



[ BEdwULF. [95-125. 

95 le6man t6 leohte land-Mendum, 

and gefriitwade foldan scedtas 

leomiim and ledfum ; lif edc gesce6p 

C3'nna gehw^'lcum, p^ra j^e cwice hwyrfaS. 

Sw^ I'd driht-gunian dreamum lifdon 
100 eadiglice, 65 ]mt ^n ongan 

fjTene fremman, fe6nd on belle : 

was se grirama giist Grendel listen, 

msere mearc-stapa, se ])e m6ras he61d, 

fen and fasten ; fifel-c^'nnes eard 
105 won-soelig wer weardode hwile, 

si'SSan him scj'ppend forscrifen hafde. 

In Caines C3'nne ]^one cwealm gewrac, 

^ce drihten, J^as ])e he Abel sl6g; 

ne gefeah he psere fsehSe, ac he hine feor forwi'ac, 
110 metod for ]>}' m^ne man-C3'nne fram. 

panon nnt3Tlras ealle onwocon, 

eotenas and jlfe and orcneas, 

swylce gigantas, ]?a wiS gode wunnon 

lange prage ; he him pas le4ii forgeald. 



III. G-rendel's Visits. 

115 Gewat ]ik ne6sian, sj'SSan niht becom, 
hedn hftses, ht hit liring-Deae 
after be6r-pege gebiin hiifdon. 
Fand pd pser inne aSelinga gedriht 
swefan after s^^mble ; sorge ne cAt5on, 

120 won-sceaft wera. Wiht nnhyelo 
grim and grnedig gearo s6na was, 
reoc and r65e, and on riiste genam 
pritig pegna : |>anon eft gewdt 
htlSe hr^mig td h^m faran, 

125 mid Vseve wal-fylle wica ne6san. 



I2G-1G0.] BEOWULF. 

pii wiis on iihtaii mid an'-diigc 
Grendles g(l5-crart giiimiin und3Tiie : 
]-d wiis iifter wiste w6p up illiafen, 
micel morgeii-sweg. Mxyg ]?e6den, 

130 aSeling ffir-gOd, unbliSe siit, 

polode ]'ry"5-swj?), ];egii-sorge dredh, 
sy55an hie |;as lA6aii liist scedwedon, 
wergaii g^stes ; wiis ])iit gewin t6 Strang, 
lix5 and longsum. Niis hit lengra fjTst, 

135 ac 3'mb Ane niht eft gefreraede 

niorS-beala mare and n6 mearn fore 
fcehSe and fj'rene ; wiis t6 filst on pdm. 
pii wiis edS-fj-nde, |?e him elles hwaer 
gerilmlicor riiste sohte, 

140 bed iifter bi\ram, ])-! him gebedcnod wiis, 
gesiigd s651iee sweotolau t^cne 
heal-J-egnes hete ; heold hine sj'^San 
f\-r and fiistor, se piim fe6nde iitwand. 
Swa rixode and wi6 rihte wan 

145 ^na wi5 eaUum, 65 piit idel stod 
hftsa selest. Wiis se6 hwil micel: 
twelf wintra tid torn gepolode 
wine Scyldinga, wedna gehwelcne, 
sidra sorga ; for])am syh'San wearS 

150 3 Ida bearnnm und3Tne otiS, 

gyddum geomore, j^iitte Grendel wan 
hwile wis IlroSgdr ; — hete-ni5as wag, 
f3Tene and faehSe fela missera, 
singale siice, sibbe ne wolde 

155 wi5 manna hwone miigenes Deniga 
feorh-bealo feorran, fe6 ])ingian, 
ne piEr menig witena wenan porfte 
beorhtre bote t6 banan folmum ; 
atol iiglaeca ^htende wiis, 

160 deorc dedS-sctia dnguSe and geogoSe, 



6 BEOWULF. [161-192. 

seomade and syrede. Sin-nibte he61d 

mistige m6ras ; men ne ciinnon, 

hw3Tler liel-r6nan Iwyrftum scri5at5. 

Sw^ fela fjrena fe6nd man-cj'nnes, 
165 atol an-gengea, oft gefremede 

heardra lijuSa ; Heorot eardode, 

sinc-f^ge sel sweartum nihtum 

(n6 he pone gif-st61 gretan mdste, 

mdSSura for metode, ne his myne wisse) ; 
170 ]>at was wraec micel wine Scyldinga, 

m6des breeSa, Monig-oft gesat 

rice id rune ; rsed eahtedon, 

hwat swi5-ferh6nm shiest woere 

wis fier-gryrum t6 gefremmanne. 
175 Hwilum hie geheton at hiirg-trafum 

wig-weor6unga, wordum bcTdon, 

pat him giist-bona ge6ce gefremede 

wis ])e6d-])Ye{mm. Swylc wiis ])ec4w hyra, 

haeSenra hjht; helle geminidon 
180 in m6d-sefan, metod hie ne cfrSon, 

daeda demend, ne wiston hie drihten god, 

ne hie ht^ru heofena hehii herian ne ctiSon, 

wuldres waldend. Wk biS pam pe sceal 

]mrh sltSne niS s^wle besciifan 
185 in fjres fiiSm, fr6fre ne wenan, 

wihte gewendan ; wel biS piim pe m6t 

after de^S-diige drihten s^cean 

and t6 fader fat^mnm freo(5o wihiian. 



IV. HyctELAc's Thane. 

SwA ])k msel-ceare maga Healfdenes 
190 singala sedS ; ne milite snotor haM 

wedn onwendan : was pat gewin id swj^S, 
M(5 and longsmn, pe on p^ le6de beoom, 



193-227.] BEOWULF. 

nyd-wracu ni(S-grini, iiiht-bciilwa mfEst. 
piit fram ht\in gcfriigii IligolAces pegn, 

195 g6d mid GeiUuin, Greiidlcs djLvla : 
se wiis mon-cynnes mageiics strongest 
on piim diige pysses llfes, 
a6ele and edcen. Het him y5-lidan 
g6dne geg^'rwan ; cwiiS he gA6-cyning 

200 ofer swan-rAde s^cean wolde, 

mserne ]?e6den, ])A him wiis manna pearf. 
pone siS-fiit him snotere ceorlas 
lyt-hwon 16gon, ))e4h he him le6f waere ; 
hwetton higer6fne, hsel scedwedon. 

205 Hiifde se g6da Gedta le6da 

cempan gecorone, ]?^ra ]?e he c^noste 
findan mihte ; fiftena sum 
sund-wudu s6hte ; secg wisade, 
Lngu-critftig raon, land-gem3Tcu. 

210 F3 rst for6 gew^t : flota was on y^"i^> 
bat under beorge. Beornas gearwe 
on stefn stigon ; streamas wundon 
sund wis sande ; seegas boeron 
on bearm nacan beorhte fratwe, 

215 gAS-searo geatolic ; guman tit scufon, 
weras on wil-si5 wudu bundenne. 
Gewat ]^k ofer waeg-hohii winde gefj^sed 
flota f^mig-heals fugle gelicost, 
66 ]?at 3'mb ^n-tid 6Sres dogores 

220 wunden-stefna gewaden hiifde, 
pat ])k liSende land gesawon, 
brim-clifu blican, beorgas stedpe, 
side sae-nassas : ))d was sund liden, 
eoletes at ende. panon up hraSe 

225 Wedera le6de on wang stigon, 

sse-wudu sgeldon (syrcan hrysedon, 
g(!lS-gew8edo) ; gode ])ancedon, 



8 BEOWULF. [228-257. 

fas ])e him yS-l^de edSe wurdoii. 

p^ of wealle geseah weard Scildinga, 

230 se ]>e holm-clifa healdan scolde, 
beran ofer bolcan beorhte randas, 
f3'rd-searu fiislicu ; hine fjTwyt brae 
in6d-geli3'gdum, hwat ])A men wgeron. 
Gewdt him fd t6 waro6e wicge ridan 

235 fegii Hr65gdres, j^rymmum ewehte 

magen-wiida mundum, meSel-wordura fragn : 
' ' Hwiit syndoii ge searo-hiibbendra 
'*byrnum werede, pe ]ms brontiie ce61 
"ofer lagu-straete Isedan cwdmon, 

240 " hider ofer holmas helmets bccronf 
"Ic wiis ende-saeta, seg-wearde he61d, 
"pat on land Dena iriSra naenig 
"mid scip-herge sce55an ne meahte. 
" No her ciiSlicor cnman ongunnon 

245 " Und-habbende ; ne ge leafnes-word 
" gfi5-fremmendra gearwe ne wisson, 
" maga gemedii. Naefre ic maran geseah 
" eorla ofer eorc>an, ponne is e6wer sum, 
" secg on searwum ; nis pat seld-guma 

250 " wa?pnum geweorSad, niifne him his wlite le6ge, 
" senile an-syn. Nu ic e6wer sceal 
" frum-cyn vvitan, aer ge fyr heonan 
" ledse sceaweras on land Dena 
" furSur feran. Nu ge feor-bClend 

255 " mere-liSencle mhine gehjraS 

" ^n-fealdne ge|j6ht : 6fest is sMest 

" td gecj'Sanne, hwanan e6wre C3'me syndon." 



258-289.] BEOWULF. 



V. The Errand. 

Him se yldesta andswarode, 
werodcs wisa word-hord onledc : 

260 '* We synt giini-cynnes Gedta le6de 
'•and lligeirices lieor(S-geneiltas. 
*' Was mill fiider folcum gecySed, 
" aScle ord-fruma Ecg]>e6w h^lten ; 
" gcbad wintra worn, aer he on weg hwiirfe, 

265 " gamol of geardum ; hine gearwe geman 
" witcna wel-liwylc wide geond eorSan. — 
" W^e ]Huii lioldne liige liUlfovd )nnne, 
"sunn Ilealfdenes, s^cean cw6mon, 
" le6d-gebyrgean : wes ]m ts lilrena g6d ! 

270 " HabbaS we to piim niieran micel fereade 
" Deniga frean ; ne sceal ]nm' dyrne sum 
"wesan, jjiis ic w6ne. pu wast, gif hit is, 
" swtl we s6Slice secgan hyrdon, 
" jjiit mid Scyldingum sceaSa ic n^t hwylc, 

275 " de6gol da^d-hata, deorcum nihtum 
''edweS ]mrh egsan uncilbne niS, 
*'hynSu and hra-fyl. Ic ])as Hr65g^r mag 
"]?urh rftmne sefan raed geljieran, 
"hA he fr6d and g6d fe6nd oferswySet5, 

280 " gyf him ed-wendan sefre scolde 
" bealuwa bisigu, bot eft cuman 
"and pa ceai*-w3-lmas colran wurSatS ; 
" oS6e i\ sySSan earfoS-ju'age, 
" }/Ted-n5'd ]JoIac5, j^enden ]>9dr wunaS 

285 "on hedli-stede hftsa selest." 

Weard maSelode, ]>ver on wicgc siit 
ombeht unforht; "^gliwaSres sceal 
" scearp scyld-wiga gescM witan, 
"worda and worca, se ]>e wel ])euce8. 



10 BEOWULF. [290-319. 

290 " Ic pat gelm'e, fat J)is is hold weorod 

" fredn Scj'lcliiiga. GewltaS forS beran 

" waepeii and gewsedu, ic e6w wisige : 

" sw3'lce ic magu-J^egnas mine hdte 

" wis fe6nda gehwone flotan e6werne, 
295 " niw-t3Twedne nacan on sande 

"drum liealdan, 6S J^iit eft byret5 

" ofer lagLi-stre^mas le6fne mannan 

" wudu wnnden-hals id Weder-mearce. 

" GAS-fremmendra sw3'lcam gifeSe bit$, 
300 "J7at ])one hilde-ries Ml gedigeS." 

Gewiton him ph feran (flota stille bM, 

seomode on sale sid-fa6mcd sc3'p, 

on ancre fiist) ; eofor-lic sci6non 

ofer hle6r-beran gehroden golde 
305 fall and f3'^'r-heard, ferh wearde he61d. 

GilSmdde grummon, guman onetton, 

sigon atsomne, 66 l^at h3^ sal timbred 

geatolic and gold-fdh ongytan mihton ; 

jjat was fore-mserost fold-b(iendum 
310 receda under roderum, on ])am se rica bM; 

lixte se le6ma ofer landa fela. 

Him ])§L hilde-de6r hof m6digra 

torht getsehte, ])'dt hie him t6 mihton 

gegnum gangan ; gA5-beorna sum 
315 wicg gewende, word after cwa8 ; 

"Moel is me t6 f^ran ; fader alwalda 

"mid 4r-stafum e6wic gehealde 

" siSa gesunde ! ic t6 sas wille, 

"wis wrd8 werod wearde healdan." 



320-351.] BEOWULF. 11 



VI. Beowulf's Speech. 

320 Str^t wiis stAn-fiih, stig wisode 
gumum titgadere. GflS-byrne scAn 
heard hond-locen, hriiig-iron scir 
song ill searwiim, pfi hie t6 sole furSum 
in Inra gryre-geatwum gangan cw6mon. 

325 Settoii sa3-me5e side scyldas, 

rondas regn-hearde wiS j'iis recedes weal, 
bugon ])i\ id bcnce ; byrnan hringdon, 
gftS-searo gumciia ; giiras st6don, 
sae-manna searo, samod atgiidere, 

330 asc-holt ufan grieg : wiis se iren-|>redt 
waepnnm gewiirSad. p^ ])sev wlonc hiiletS 
oret-mecgas ilfter a5elam friigii : 
" Hwanon ferigeaS ge fittte scyldas, 
" grsege syrcan and grlm-belmas, 

335 " liere-sceafta hedp? — Ic com Hr65gdres 
" dr and ombiht. Ne seah ic el-]'e6dige 
" pus manige men m6diglicran. 
"Wen' ic pat ge for wlenco, nalles for wriec-siSum, 
" ac for bige-]n-ymraum HrdSgiir soliton." 

340 Him pii ellen-rof andswarode, 

wlanc Wedera Ie6d word iifter sprac, 
beard under lielme : "We synt Higelilces 
" be6d-genedtas ; Be6wulf is min nama. 
" Wille ic Asccgan suna Healfdenes, 

345 " moerura ])e6dne min aerende, 

" aid re pinum, gif lie 1\s geunnan wile, 
"pat we bine swd g6dne gretan m6ton." 
Wulfgdr maSelode (pat wiis Wendla le6d, 
"wiis bis m6d-sefa manegum gec5'(5ed, 

350 wig and wis-dom) : " ic piis wine Deniga, 
" frean Scildinga frinan wille, 



12 BEOWULF. [352-382. 

" bedga bryttan, sw^ |m b^na eart, 
" ]^e6deii mjieriie ymb ]tniie si5 ; 
"and ]^e pTi andsware iidre gecySan, 

355 " ]?e me se goda ^gifaii ];ence6." 

Hwearf l?a liriidlice, pffir Hr66gar sat, 
eald and unhdr mid his eorla gedriht ; 
eode ellen-rof, pat he for eaxlum gest6d 
Deniga fredn, cfiSe he duguSe ]'eaw. 

360 Wulfgdr ma'Selode id his wine-drilitne : 
"Her's3'ndon geferede feorran cumene 
' ' ofer geofenes begang Gedta le6de : 
' ' pone yldestan oret-mecgas 
"Beowulf nemnaS. H3" benan synt, 

365 " piit hie, ]je6den min, wi6 pe m6ton 

" wordum wrixlan ; n6 ]m him wearne gete6h, 
" pinra gegn-cwida gladnian, HrdSgdr ! 
" Hy on wig-geatwum vvy^^'e pincea'S 
"eorla geffihtlan ; htirn se aldor dedh, 

370 " se psem heaSo-rincum hider wlsade." 



VII. Hrothgar's Welcome. 

Hr65gar maSelode, helm Scyldinga : 
" Ic hine cA5e cniht-wesende. 
"Was his eald-fader Ecgpe6 h^ten, 
" piim t6 hCun forgeaf HreSel Gedta 

375 " angan ddhtor ; is his eafora nn 

"heard her cumen, sdhte holdne wine. 
" ponne siigdon piit sfe-li6ende, 
" pd ];e gif-sceattas Gedta f^'redon 
" pyder 16 pance, piit he prittiges 

380 "manna mligen-criift on his mund-gripe 
" hea5o-r6f hiibbe. Hine hdlig god 
"for dr-stafinn tls onsende, 



383-417.] BEOWULF. 13 

''td West-Dcnum, l)a.s ic w6n litib])e, 

" wi(S Grendles gryre : ic \'txm g6dan sceal 

385 " for his m6d-]?riice mAdmas beodan. 
" Be6 }>u on 6feste, hdt Jiig in g^n, 
*' se6n sibbe-gedrilit samod iitgadere ; 
" gcsaga him oac wordum, piit liie sint wil-cuman 
" Deniga le6dum." y.d tci6 duru healle 

390 Wulfgdr code, word inne Abedd : 
" E6w het seegan sige-drihten min, 
" aldor Edst-Dena, ydt ho cower iiSclu can 
" and ge him s3'ndon ofcr sic-wyhiias, 
" heard-hicgende, hider wil-cuman. 

395 " Nu ge moton gangan in e6wrura gAS-geatawum, 
"under here-griman, HrdSgtir gese6n ; 
" laetaS hilde-bord her onbidian, 
" wudu wiil-sceaftas, worda gepinges." 
Aras ])^ se rica, 3'inb hinc rinc nianig, 

400 })r3'6hc pegna hedp ; sume paer bidon, 

heabo-redf he61don, swA him se hearda bebedd. 

Snyredon atsomne, ])§l secg wisode 

under Ileorotes hr5f; hyge-rdf eode, 

heard under hehne, pat he on heobe gestdd. 

405 Be6wulf ma8elode (on him b\-rne scdn, 
searo-net se6wed smiSes or-pancum) : 
"Wes ]m Hr65gdr Mil ic com Higeldces 
" maeg and mago-])egn ; habbe ic ma;r(^a fela 
" ongunnen on geogoSe. Me wearS Grendles ping 

410 "on minre ^5el-tyrf undynie cft6 : 

" secgaS sae-li5end, pat pes sele stande, 
" reced selesta, rinca gehwylcum 
" idel and unnyt, siSc^an refen-le6ht 
"under heofenes hddor beholen weorSe'5. 

415 " pA me pat gelrerdon le6de mine, 
" p^ s^lestan, snotere ceorlas, 
" pe6den Hr6Sgdr, pat ic pe s6hte ; 



14 BEOWULF. [418-452. 

' for)?an hie miigenes craft miuiie cASon : 

' selfe ofersiiwon, ])k ic of searwum cwom, 

' f^h from fe6iidLiiii, ]>aer ic fife geband, 

' ySde eotena cj'ii, and on y6um sl6g 

' niceras nihtes, nearo-pearfe dredli, 

' wrac Wedera niS (wedn ^hsodon) 

' forgrand gramum ; and nu wi6 Greudel sceal, 

' wi6 f>am aglaecan, -Ina. gehegan 

' ]?ing wis ]?yrse. Ic ]?e nu fd, 

' brego Beorht-Dena, biddan wille, 

' eodor Sc3'ldinga, dnre b^ne ; 

' pat ]?u me ne forw3^rne, wigendra lile6, 

' fre6-wine folca, nu ic ])us feorran com, 

' ];at ic m6te ^na and mtnra eorla gedrj'ht, 

' ]?es hearda hedp, Heorot faelsian. 

' Habbe ic edc geMisod, ])at se aglseca 

' for his won-h^dum wsepna ne r6ce'5 ; 

' ic ]rdt ])onne forhicge, sw^ me HigeMc sle, 

' min mon-drihten, m6des bllSe, 

' ]?at ic sweord bere o5Se sidne sc3id 

' geolo-rand t6 gtiSe ; ac ic mid gritpe sceal 

' f6n wis fe6nde and ymb feorh sacan, 

' laS wis l^iSum ; l^aer gelyfan sceal 

' dr^'htnes d6me se j^e hine ded'S nime'S. 

' Wen' ic ])at he wille, gif he wealdan m6t, 

' in jjam gliS-sele Gedtena le6de 

' etan unforhte, swd he oft dyde 

' magen HreSmanna. Nt\ ]>u rainne l>earft 

' hafalan hjxlan, ac he me habban wile 

' dre6re fMme, gif mec dedS nime'S, 

' byreS blddig wal, byrgean J^enceS, 

' eteS ^n-genga unmurnlice, 

' mearcaS m6r-h6pu : no ])u ymb mines ne ])earft 

' llces feorme leng sorgian. 

' Onsend HigelAce, gif mec hild ninae, 



453-483.] BEOWULF. 15 

" boaclii-scrAda betst, J'ilt mtnc brc6st were?), 
" hriigla selost ; piit is IlreMiiu IlLI", 
455 '' W^^laudes geweorc. GaeS d W3Td swd lii6 sccl ! " 



VIII. Heotiigar tells of Grendel. 

Hr6Sgar maSelode, helm Scykliiiga: 
"for ?c(?;'e-iyiituin ])u, wine miu Be6wulf, 
"and for Ar-stafuin 6sic sOhtest. 
" Gesloli ]nii fiider fi"eh6e masste, 

460 "wear6 he HeaSoUfe id hand-boiian 
"mid Wilfmgmn; ])d hhic Wedora c}'!! 
"for here-brogan habbaii ne mihte. 
" panon he ges6hte SiCl?)-DeDa folc 
" ofer y6a gewealc, Ar-Scyldinga ; 

465 "pa ic furSum we61d folce Deninga, 
" and on geogo6e he61d gimme-rice 
"hord-burh hilleSa : pa wits Heregdr dedd, 
" mtn 3'ldra m.Tg unUfigende, 
"beam Healfdenes. Se wiis betera ponne ic ! 

470 " Si56an pa ftiehcSe fe6 pingode ; 

" sende ic Wylfingum ofer wateres hrycg 
" ealde madmas : he me 46as swor. 
' ' Sorh is me to secganne on sefan minum 
" giimena aengum, hwiit me Grendel hafa'5 

475 " hj'nSo on Heorote mid his hete-pancum, 
" faer-ni6a gefremed. Is min flet-werod, 
' ' wig-hedp gewanod ; hie Wyrd forswe6p 
" on Grendles gryre. God edSe miig 
"pone dol-sca6an dseda getwaefan ! 

480 " Ful oft gebc6tedon be6re druncne 
" ofer ealo-waege oret-mecgas, 
"pat hie in be6r-sele bidan woldon 
"Grendles g(l(5e mid gryrum ecga. 



IQ BEOWULF. [484-514. 

" ponne wiis |je6s medo-heal oa morgen-tid, 
485 " driht-sele dre6r-fali, j-onne diig lixte, 

" eal benc-pela bl6de bestymed, 

" lioall lieoru-dre6re : Mite ic holdra py las, 

" de6iTe dugaSe, ]:e );a deaS fornam. 

" Site nu t6 s^'iiile and oiiSctI meoto, 
490 " sige-hrd6 secgum, swa ]'iii sefa liwette ! " 

pA was Geat-miicgum geador atsomiie 

on beor-sele bene geiymed ; 

J7rer swiS-ferhSe sittan eodon 

jnySum dealle. pcgn nytte behe61d, 
495 se ]>e on lianda bar hroden ealo-wrege, 

seenete scir wered. Scop hwiliim sang 

hCidor on Heorote ; paer wiis liiileSa dream, 

dugLv6 unlytel Dena and Wedera. 



IX. HuNFERTH Objects to Beowulf. 

HunferS maSelode, Ecglafes beam, 

500 pe at fdtum siit fredn Seyldinga ; 

onband beadu-rfme (wiis liim Be6wulfes si5, 
m6dges mere-faran, micel iif-]>iinca, 
forpon ])e he ne Ci6e, ]>iit Jienig 65er man 
sefre myerSa ]:on mil middan-geardes 

505 geliedde under heofennm ponne he sylfa) : 

" Eart ])u se Be6wulf, se pe wi5 Brecan wunne, 

"on sidne sae ymb sund flite, 

' ' p.ner git for wlence wada connedon 

" and for dol-gilpe on deop wiiter 

510 " aldrum neSdon? Ne inc oenig mon, 
" ne le6f ne kiS, belean mihte 
" sorh-falhie slS ; ];^i git on snnd re6n, 
"pser git edgor-stredm earmnm ]'eliton, 
" mseton mere-strseta, mandmn bnigdon, 



rjl5-54U.] 



BEOWULF. 



17 



' giidon ofcr gAr-secg ; geofon yftum wc61, 

' Aviiitrcs wylmo. Git on wiltcres jxilit 

' scofon iiiht swiiiicoii ; he Jjc lit siindo oferfldt, 

' hal'de marc magcii. pa hine on niorgcn-tld 

' on Heat^o-nunias holm n[) iitbai', 

' |;onon he gesohtc swijosne eSel 

•■ leof his Icochnn loncl Brondinga, 

' freoSo-burh fiigere, );an* he Iblc fihte, 

' bui-g and beagas. Be6t eal wi6 pe 

' sunn Beanstilnes s6?5e gela^^ste. 

' ponne wene ie to jje W3i-san gepinges, 

' ])eah ))n liea5o-raisa gehwjxir dohte, 

' grimre gCiSe, gif l)u Grendles dearst 

' niht-longne fvrst nedn bidan ! " 

Beowulf maSelode, beam Ecgpeowes : 
" Ilwiit pa worn fela, wine min IlftnferS, 
' beore (h-uncen ymb Brecan si)riece, 
' siigdest from his si6e ! S66 ic talige, 
' J'iit ic mere-strengo maran tlhte, 
' eafeSo on ySum, ];onne tenig 66er man. 
' ATit ])lit gecwtedon cniht-wesende 
' and gebeotedon (wreron begen j'A git 
' on geogo6-feore) J'iit wit on gar-secg At 
' aldrum neSdon ; and ];at geiifndon swA. 
' Hiifdon swurd nacod, J^a wit on sund re6n, 
' heard on handa, wit unc w^i6 hron-fixas 
' werian [ohton. N(> he wiht fram me 
fleotan meahte, 

n6 ic fram him wolde. 
on sve woeron 
05 pat unc Hod tOdrdf, 
wedera cealdost, 
nipende niht and norSan wind 

'•' heaSo-grim andhwearf; hrc6 wseron y^a. 
' Was mere-fixa m6d onhrered : 



' fl6d-5 6um feor 
' hraSor on holme, 
' pA wit iitsomne 
' fif nihta fyrst, 
' wado weallende, 



18 BEOWULF. [550-580. 

550 " pser me wi5 laSum lic-syrce min, 
"heard liond-locen, helpe gefremede ; 
" beado-liriigl broden on bre6stum lilg, 
"golde gegjTwed. Me t6 grunde tedli 
"fall fc6nd-scat5a, fiiste liiifde 

555 "grim on grdpe : liwaSre me gyfeSe weart5, 
" piit ic agisecan orde geraelite, 
" liilde-bille ; bea'So-r.ies fornam 
" mihtig mere-de6r Jairh mine hand. 



X. Beowulf's Coi^test with BreCzI. — The Feast. 

" SwA mec gelome laS-geteonan 
5G0 " preatedon pearle. Ic him penode 

" deoran sweorde, swA hit gedefe was; 

"nils hie pnere fylle gefcan hiifdon, 

" mi\n-fordoedLan, pat hie me j^egon, 

" S3'mbcl 3'mb-S£eton soe-grunde nedh, 
565 " ac on mergenne mecmn wmide 

"be ' Ife uppe loegon, 

" swe dmn dswefede, pat sySSan nd 

' ' ymb brontne ford brim-li6ende 

"lade ne letton. Le6ht eastan com, 
570 " beorht bedcen godes ; brimu swaSredon, 

"pat ic sae-niissas gese6n mihte, 

" windige weallas. WjTd oft nere'5 

" unfasgne eorl, Sonne his ellen dedh! 

" HwaSere me gesaelde, pat ic mid sweorde ofsl6h 
575 "niceras nigene. No ic on niht gefrilgn 

"under heofones hwealf heardran fcohtan, 

" ne on 6g-stredmum earmran mannan ; 

' ' hwaSere ic fara feng feore gedigde, 

" siSes wC'rig. pa mec see 65bar, 
580 " fl6d after faro6e, on Finna land, 



581-G15.] BEOWULF. 19 

" wad 11 wealloiidu. N6 ic wilit fram j>n 

" swylcra searo-ni(Sa secgan liyrde, 

" billa br6i2:an : Breca nuai'io, git 

" at hcaSo-ldcc, iie geliwaSer incer 
585 " swA de6rlicc died gefremcde 

" fAgum sweorduin 

" n6 ic ]'as gylpe ; 

''I'cjili I'll ])tiuiin l)r66rum t6 banan wiirde, 

" liGiifod-in.Teguin ; ]ms ]m in belle scealt 
590 "werhSo dreogan, pedh ]>ln wit duge. 

'' Seege ic pe t6 s65e, sunu Ecgl^fes, 

" j^iit naefre Grendel swd, fela gryra gefrcraede, 

" atol agloeca ealdre jHiium, 

'^hynSo on Heorote, gif ]>in hige wiere, 
595 " sefa sw4 searo-grim, swd ])u self talast. 

"Ac lie liafaS onfuuden, ]mt he pd, faehSe ne pearf, 

" atole ecg-]n*ace e6wer le6de 

" swiSe onsittan, Sige-Scj'ldinga ; 

" nymeS nj'd-bMe, naenegum ^ra6 
600 " le6de Deuiga, ae he on lust wige'S, 

" swefe5 ond sendeS, siicce ne w^net^'- 

" t6 G^r-Denum. Ac him Ge<4ta sceai ; 

" eafoS and ellen ungedra nu 

" gft5e gebe6dan. GaeS eft se };e m6t 
605 ' • t6 medo m6dig, si66an morgen-le6ht 

" ofer 3'lda beam 65res dogores, 

" snnne swegl-wered s(i6an scineS!" 

])k was on sMum sinces biytta 

gamol-feax and g(lS-r6f, ge6ce gey-fde 
610 brego Beorht-Dena ; gehj'rde on Be6wulfe 

folces hyrde fiist-raediie ge};6ht. 

pa?r was hiileSa hleahtor; hlj'n swynsode, 

word waeron wynsume. Eode Wealh])e6w for6, 

cw6n Hr66gAres, cynna gemyndig, 
615 gr^tte gold-hroden guman on healle, 



20 BEOWULF. [616-050. 

and ])§i fre61ic wif ful gesealde 
serest Edst-Dena 6(^el-wearde, 
bad hine bli^ne at ];asre be6r-])ege, 
le6dum le6fne ; he on lust gej^eah 

620 symbel and sele-fal, sige-r6f kyning. 
Ymb-eode }Ci ides Hehninga 
dugnSe and geogoSe doel ^ghvv} Icne ; 
sinc-fato sealde, 65 j^iit ssel Mamp, 
)>at hio Be6wulfe, bedg-hroden cwen, 

625 m6de ge]mngen, medo-ful iitbar ; 
gr^tte Gedta leod, gode pancode 
wis-fast wordum, pas ]?e hire se willa gelamp, 
])&t heo on aenigne eorl gel^^fde 
fyrena frofre. He ])at fill ge]?eah, 

630 wal-re6w wiga at Wealhpeon, 
and ]7^ gyddode giiSe gefysed, 
Be6wulf maSelode, beam Eegj/e6wes : 
" Ic ]mt hogode, |)i\ ic on holm gestMi, 
' ' sse-bdt gesiit mid minra secga gedriht, 

635 ' ' pat ic anunga G6wra le6da 

"willan geworhte, oSSe on will crunge, 
" fe6nd-grapam fast. Ic gefremman sceal 
" eorlic ellen, oS5e ende-diig 
"on pisse meodu-healle mlnne gebidan.'* 

640 pam wife pa word wel licodon, 

gilp-cwide Geates ; eode gold-hroden 
fre61icn folc-cw^n t6 hire frean sittan. 
pi\ was eft swi\ ser inne on healle 
pryS-w^ord sprecen, pe6d on sselnm, 

645 sige-folca sweg, 65 ]>at semninga 
sunn Healfdenes secean wolde 
aefen-raste ; wiste at piim ahlaecan 
t6 pam hedh-sele hilde gepinged, 
siSSan hie snnnan le6ht gese6n ne meahton, 

650 o56e nipende niht ofer ealle, 



651-G81.] BEOWULF. 21 

scadii-liolma gcsccapu scrtiSaii cwAman, 
wan under Avolcnum. AYerod call AiAs. 
GrCtte ])d gkldum guma 6(Sornc, 
Hr6(Ngrir Be6wulf, and him liajl aboM, 

655 win-iirnes geweald and j^iit word ficwaS : 
" Naefre ic aencgnra men xr Tiyrde, 
" si66an ic bond and rond liebl)an mihte, 
" ]?r3'6-arn Dcna buton j^e nu ]>Ci. 
" riafa nu and gelieald liAsa selest ; 

660 '•'gem3ne ma3r(5o, magen-elleu cy5, 

" waca wis wr^Sum ! Ne biS ])e wilna gdd, 
" gif ]'u ydt ellen-weorc aldre gedigest." 



XI. The Watch for Grendel. 

pA him Hr6Sgdr gew^t mid his haleSa gedr3'ht, 
eodur Scyldinga fit of healle ; 

665 wolde wig-fruma AVealh])e6 secan, 

cwen 16 gebeddan. Hiifde k^ninga wuldor 
Grendle td-gednes, swd guman gelrungon, 
scle-weard dseted : sundor-n3'tte behe61d 
3mb aldor Den a, eoton weard tibedd ; 

670 lidru Geata le6d georne truwode 
m6dgan magnes, metodes hyldo. 
pa he him of d3'de isern-byrnan, 
hehii of hafelan, sealde his hyrsted sweord, 
irena C3'st ombiht-j^egne, 

675 and gehealdan het hilde-geatwe. 

Gesprac , a se gOda gyl[)-worda sum 
Beowulf Gedta. ixiv he on 1)ed stige : 
" N<5 ic me an here-woesmum hnagran tahge 
" gA5-geweorca, ponne Grendel hine ; 

6S0 ''forpan ic hine sweorde swebban nelle, 
•' aldre bene6tan, pedh ic eal nu"ege. 



22 ^ BEOWULF. [682-710. 

" N^t he ]>^ra gOda, |uit he me on-gedii sled, 
"rand geheawe, pedh ]'e he r6f sie 
" niS-geweorca ; ac wit on niht sciilon 

685 " secge ofersittan, gif he gesecean dear 
"wig ofer wsepen, and si66an witig god 
" on sw4 hwaSere hond h^hg dryhten 
" mserSo deme, swi^ hhn gemet ]nnce." 
Hylde hhie ])d heaSo-deor, hle6r-bolster onffing 

690 eorles andwhtan ; and hine ymb monig 
snellic soe-rinc sele-reste gebeah. 
Nsenig heora J^ohte ]mt he ]mnon scolde 
eft eard-hifan ?efre gesecean, 
folc o66e fre6-burh, j^ser he ^feded was, 

695 ac hie hafdon gefrunen, jmt hie ser t6 fela micles 
in ]>am wan-sele wal-deii8 fornam, 
Denigea le6de. Ac him dryhten forgeaf 
wig-speda gewiofii, Wedera le6dum 
frdfor and fultum, ]mt hie feond heora 

700 ]>urh ^nes craft ealle oferc6mon, 
selfes mihtum : s65 is gecySed, 
]>at mihtig god manna C3'nnes 
we61d wide-ferh6. Com on wanre niht 
scriSan sceadu-genga. Sce6tend swsefon, 

705 ]/^ j^iit horn-reced healdan scoldon, 

ealle baton aniim. pat was yldiim cfttS, 
]7at hie ne moste, }>d metod nolde, 
se syn-sca5a under sceadu bregdan ; 
ac he wiiccende wraSum on andan 

710 bM bolgen-m6d beadwa ge]>inges. 



711-742.] BEOWULF. 23 



XII. Grendel's Raid. 

pi. com of m6re under mist-hleoSum 
Grendel gongan, godes 3-rre biir. 
Myiite se mAn-scaSa manna oynnes 
sumne besyrwan in sele pam hcdn ; 

715 w6d under wolcnum, t6 piis pe he win-reced, 
gold-sele guniena, gcarwost wisse 
fiittum ITihne. Ne wiis ]'iit forma si5, 
)iiit he HrOSgdres hiim gesohte : 
niefre he on aldor-dagnm asr ne si(5(5an 

720 heardran hiile, heal-pegnas ftmd ! 
Com I'd to recede rinc si5ian 
dreamum beda3led. Durn s6na onarn 
fyr-bendnm fiist, sy86an he hine fohnura hr^n 
onbriid [-^ bealo-hydig, ]>^ he dbolgen was, 

725 recedes m(16an. RaSe after pon 
on f^gne flor fe6nd treddode, 
eode yrre-mod ; hhn of edgum stdd 
llge gelicost le6ht unfiiger. 
Geseah he in recede rinca manige, 

730 swefan sibbe-gedriht samod atgiidere, 
mago-rinca heap : ]^a his m6d tihlog, 
mynte piit he gcdoelde, ser j^on diig cw6me, 
atol agloeca, Tmra gehwylces 
lif wi6 lice, ]/A him tilumpen wiis 

735 wist-fylle wen. Ne wiis j^iit wyrd ])h gen, 
ydt he md m6ste manna cynnes 
picgean ofer j)A niht. pry6-sw3-5 behe61d 
mseg Higel^ces, hft se m^n-scat5a 
under fser-gripum gefaran wolde. 

740 Ne ]?at se agUeca yldan )-<5hte, 
ac he geft^ng hraSe forman siSe 
slsependne rinc, shit unwearnnm, 



24 BEOWULF. [743-777. 

b^t bt\n-locaii, bl6d ^clrum clranc, 

S3'n-snneclam swealli : s6na liafde 
745 iinh'figendes eal gefeormod 

fet and folma. ForS ne^r atstdp, 

nam ];ii mid handa hige-|)ihtigne 

rinc on rtiste ; rsehte ongedn 

fe6nd mid folme, he onfeng hra^e 
750 inwit-])ancnm and wiS earm gesat. 

S6na ]mt onfunde fyrena h3'rde, 

])'dt he ne mette middan-geardes 

eorSan sceata on eh*an men 

mund-gripe niAran : he on m6de wearS 
755 forht on ferhSe, n6 ]>y aer fram meahte ; 

hyge was him hin-fuis, wolde on heolster fle6n, 

secan de6fla gedriig : ne was his drohtoS ]>8er, 

sw3'lce he on ealder-dagum 9sr ge mette. 

Gemunde ];fi se g6da maeg Higel^ces 
760 sefen-sproece, up-lang iUt6d 

and him f tiste wiSf<5ng. Fingras burston ; 

eoten wiis fit-weard, eoii furSur st6p. 

Mynte se niiEra, ];9er he meahte sw^, 

widre gewindan and on weg jmnon 
765 fle6n on fen-hopu ; wiste his fingra geweald 

on grames grdpum. piit wiis ge6cor siS, 

];at se hearm-scaSa 16 Heornte ^tedh : 

drylit-sele dynede, Dennm eallum weart5, 

ceastcr-bliendam, c^nra gehw3icum, 
770 eorhuii ealu-scerwen. Yrre wseron begen, 

reSe r^n-weardas. Reced hl3'nsode ; 

])k was wnndor micel, ])at se win-sele 

wiShafde hea'5o-de6rum, ]?at he on hrusan ne fe61. 

f ager fold-bold ; ac he ])as f aste was 
775 innan and titan Iren-bendum 

searo-j'oncum besmiSod. pser fram sj^lle ^bedg 

meda-l)enc monig mine gefraege, 



•7S-808.] BEOWULF. 25 

golde gercgnad, jjier ]^Ci graman wunnon; 

))tis lie woiuloii aer witau Seykliiiga, 
780 ])at hit Ci mid gcmete niaiiiia icnig 

betltc and brm-lag t6brecaii meahte, 

listum tulAcaii, iiyiiicSe liges fa6m 

swiilge on swaSule. Swdg up Astdg 

niwe geneahhe ; NorS-Denum st6d 
785 atclic egesa ^nra geliwylcum 

j^rira ]'e of wealle wop gehyrdon, 

gryre-le68 galau godos audsacan, 

sio"e-ledsne sang, sCiv w^iiigean 

helle hilftan. He61d liine t6 taste 
790 so ])C manna was miigene strengest 

on ])am dilge ])jsses lifes. 



XIII. Beowulf Tears off Grendel's Arm. 

NoLDE eorla lile6 jenige ])inga 

fone cwealm-cuman cwiene forlaetan, 

ne his lif-dagas le6da aenigum 
795 n3'tte tealde. paer genehost briigd 

eorl Be6wulfes ealde hife, 

wolde freti-drihtnos feorh ealgian 

mieres |)G6dnes, ])oer hie meahton swd ; 

hie ]mt ue wiston, ])a hie gewin drugon, 
800 heard-hicgende hilde-mecgas, 

and on healfa gehwone hetiwan j'dhton, 

sAwle sdcan, Pelt pone S3-n-sca5an 

senig ofer eorSan irenna cyst, 

gA6-billa niin gretan nolde ; 
805 ac he sige-waepnum forsworen hafde, 

ecga gehw3'lcre. Scolde his aldor-gediil 

on ])am diige jn'sses lifes 

earmlic wui'^an and se ellor-oast 



26 BEOWULF. [809-837 

on fe6nda geweald feor siSian. 

810 pk ydt onfuiide se ];e fela seror 
mddes injrSe manna cynne 
fyrene gefremede (he teas fkg wiS gocl) 
pat bini se lic-lioma Isestan nolde, 
ac Line se mddega mseg Hygelaces 

815 liiifde be honda ; was geliwaSer 66rum 
lifigende MS. Llc-sar gebM 
atol aglseca, him on eaxle wearS 
S3^n-dolh sweotol, seonowe onsprungon, 
bm'ston bdn-locan. Be6walfe wearS 

820 giftS-hr^6 gyfeSe ; scolde Grendel ponan 
feorh-se6c fle6n under fen-hleo(5u, 
s^cean wyn-leds wic ; wiste ])d geornor, 
]>at his aldres was ende gegongen, 
dogera dag-rim. Denum ealhnii wearS 

825 after ]>a\n wal-ra3se willa gehimpen. 

Hafde pa gefselsod, se ]-e rer feorran com, 
snotor and swyS-ferh^ sele Hr66g^res, 
genered wiS niSe. Niht-weorce gefeh, 
ellen-mserSum ; hafde Edst-Denum 

830 Geat-mecga le6d gilp gelaested, 
sw3'lce oncySSe ealle geb^tte, 
inwid-sorge, pe hie ser drugon 
and for pred-nydum poUan scoldon, 
torn milytel. pat was t^cen sweotol, 

835 syS^an hilde-de6r hond Megde, 

earm and eaxle (pser wiis eal geador 
Grendles gr^pe) under gedpne hrdf. 



838-8G9.] BEOWULF. 27 



XIV. The Joy at Heorot. 

pA wiis on morgen mine gefraege 
ymb ]>A gif-heallc gfl6-rinc monig: 

840 fi&rclon folc-togan feorran and nedn 
geond wid-wegas wundor scedwian, 
Idfies lAstas. N6 his lif-geddl 
sAiiic I'lllite seega oenegum, 
pdra ]'e tir-ledses trode scedwode, 

845 lift he w^rig-m6d on wcg ])anon, 
ni6a ofercnmen, on niccra mere 
faege and gcflj'med feorh-ldstas bar. 
peer wiis on l)16de brim weallende, 
atol ySa geswing eal gemenged 

850 hdtan heolfre, heoro-dre6re we61 ; 
dedS-ftiege de6g, siS^an dredma leds 
in fen-freo6o feorh Megde 
haeSene sdwle, paer him hel onf<§ng. 
panon eft gewiton eald-gesiSas, 

855 sw3lce geong manig of gomen-wdSe, 
fram mere m6dge, meariim ridan, 
beornas on blancum. paer was Be6wulfes 
maerSo manned ; monig oft gecwac^, 
ydtte sCiS ne norS be saem tweonnm 

860 ofer eormen-grand 65er naenig 
under swegles begong seh*a naere 
rond-habbendra, rices wyii5ra. 
Ne hie hftru wine-drihten wiht ne 16gon, 
gladne Hroftgdr, ac ])at wits g6d cyning. 

865 Hwilum hea5o-r6fe hleapan l^ton, 
on geflit faran fealwe mearas, 
))ser him fold-wegas fagere j^fthton, 
C3'stum cftSe ; hwihmi cyninges |>egn, 
guma gilp-hladen gidda gemyndig, 



28 BEOWULF. [870-904. 

870 se ]>e eal-fela eald-gesegena 

worn gemiinde, word 65er fand 

s6Se gebunden : secg eft ongan 

siS Be6wnlfes sn3-ttruni st3'rian 

and on sped wrecan spel gerMe, 
875 wordiim wrixlan, wel-liwylc gecwa'S, 

|)at he frara vSigemunde secgan hyrde, 

ellen-dsediim, unctiSes fela, 

Walsinges gewin, wide sit^as, 

j^ara ])e gumena beam gearwe ne wiston, 
880 faeliSe and fj'rene, buton Fitela mid hine, 

j7onne he sw3dces hwat secgan wolde 

edm his nefan, swtt hie k wseron 

at niSa gehwam nyd-gesteallan : 

hafdon eal-fela eotena C3'^nnes 
885 sweordum gesneged. Sigemunde gesprong 

after de46-dage d6m unlytel, 
' s3"S^an wiges heard w3Tm ^cwealde, 

hordes hyrde ; he under h^rne st^n, 

aSelinges beam, ^na gen^Sde 
890 frdcne daede ; ne was him Fitela raid. 

HwaSre him gesaelde, }mt ]>at swurd J»urhw6d 

wratlicne wyrm, pat hit on wealle atst6d, 

dryhtllc iren ; draca morSre swealt. 

Hafde aglieca elne gegongen, 
895 ]?at he beah-hordes brucan m6ste 

selfes d6me : sse-bdt gehlod, 

bar on bearm scipes beorhte fralwa, 

Walses eafera ; W3'^rm h^t gemealt. 

Se was wreccena wide mserost 
900 ofer wer-]7e6de, wigendra hle6 

ellen-dsedum (he ])as ser on]>dh), 

siSSan Herem6des hild sweSrode 

eafoS and ellen. He mid eotenum wear^ 

on fe6nda ge weald for^ forlacen, 



905-0r>4.] BEOWULF. 29 

9U.3 snftde forsendod. Iline sorh-wylraas 

IcMnedc t6 lange, he his l('6dum wearS, 

caUuni ii(Seliiigiiin t6 aldor-ceare ; 

swylee oft bemearii aerraii mjL^ura 

swi(S-lerh(Ses si8 snotor ccoii inoiiig, 
910 sc pe him bealwa to b6te gelyfde, 

])iit ptit ]?c6dnes beam ge]5e6ii scolde, 

fader-iiJSehini onion, folc gehealdan, 

hord and hle6-burh. hiileSa rice, 

dSel Scyldinga. He ])ser eaUum wear^, 
915 mscg Iligeltices manna cynne, 

fre6ndam gefiigra ; liine fyren onw6d. 

Hwilum flitende fealwe stra^te 
mearam niicton. pii was morgen-le6ht 
scofen and seynded. Eode scealc monig 

920 swiS-hicgende t6 sele ])am hedn, 

searo-wundor se6n, swylee self cyning, 
of bryd-b6re bedh-horda weard, 
tryddode tir-fiist getmme micle, 
C3'stum gecySed, and his cwen mid him 

925 medo-stig gemiit magSa h6se. 



XV. Hrothgar's Gratulation. 

Hr6Sgar maSelode (he t6 healle ge6ng, 
st6d on stapole, geseah ste^ipne hr6f 
golde f^hne and Grendles hond) : 
" jnsse ansyne al-wealdan pane 
930 " lungre gelimpe ! Fela ic lASes gebM, 
" giTnna lit Grendle : ^ miig god wyrcan 
" wunder iiftcr wnndre, wuldres hyrde ! 
"pat was ungedra, ]?at ic aenigra me 
"wedna ne w^nde t6 widan feore 



30 BEOWULF. [935-969. 

935 "b6te gebidan J>onne bl6de mh 
' ' h^sa selest heoro-dre6rig st6d ; 
"wed wid-scofen witena geliw3'lcne 
"]?dra pe ne wendon, ]>at hie wide-ferhS 
' ' le6da land-geweorc IdSum beweredon 

940 " scuccum and scinnum. Nu scealc liafat^ 
" )Hirh drihtnes milit dsed gefremede, 
' ' ]>e we ealle aer ne mealiton 
" sn3'ttrum bes3Twan. Hwiit ! pat secgan mag 
" efne sw^ hw3'lc magSa, sw^ J^one magan cende 

945 " after gum-C3'nnum, gyf he6 g3't h'faS, 
' ' fat h3Te eald-metod este wsere 
" bearn-geb3Tdo. Nu ic Be6wulf 
" ])ee, secg betsta, me for siniu wylle 
' ' fre6gan on ferhSe ; heald forS tela 

950 " niwe sibbe. Ne biS ]?e naenigra gM 
" worolde wilna, pe ic geweald habbe. 
' ' Ful-oft ic for lassan lean teohhode 
" hord-weorSunge hntthran rince, 
" saemran at siicce. pu ])e self hafast 

955 " dsedum gefremed, ])at ])ln dd7n tyfaS 
" dw^ t6 aldre. Alwalda pec 
" g6de forg3dde, swd he nu g3't d3'de!" 
Be6wulf maSelode, beam Ecg]7e6wes : 
"We pat ellen-weorc dstum miclum, 

960 " feohtan fremedon, fr6cne gen65don 
" eafoS uncftSes ; A6e ic swiSor, 
" piit ]n\ hine selfne gese6n m6ste, 
' ' fe6nd on fratewum fyl-w.^rigne ! 
' ' Ic hine hrixdlice heardan clammiim 

965 "on wiil-bedde wriSan |;6hte, 

"pat he for mond-gripe minum scolde 

" licgean lif-bysig, bntan his lie swlce ; 

" ic hine ne mihte, p4 metod nolde, 

" ganges getw?eman, n6 ic him pas georne atfealh. 



970-1000.] BEOWULF. 31 

970 ^ ' feorh-genl51an ; wtis t6 Ibrc-mihtig 

" fe6nd on f65e. Hwaficre he his folme forl6t 

" t6 lif-wra(Se lAst weardian, 

" earm and eaxle ; n6 pier lenige svv4 pedh 

" fed-sceaft guma fr6fre gebohte : 
975 " n6 py leng leofacS Id5-gete6na 

" syniium geswenccd, ac h3'ne sAr hafat5 

"in nyd-gripe near we befongen, 

' ' balwon bendum : J^jier dbidan sceal 

" maga mdne fiih micUm d6mes, 
980 "hA iiim scir metod scrifan wille." 

p^ was swigra secg, sunu Ecgl^fes, 

on gylp-spra3ce gdS-geweorca, 

si55an iicSelingas eorles criifte 

ofer hedhne hr6f hand scedwedon, 
985 fe6ndes fingras, foran seghwylc ; 

wiis stede niigla gehwylc, style gellcost, 

haeSenes hand-sperii hilde-rinces 

egle unhe6ru ; aeg-hwylc gecwaS, 

pat him heardra ndn hiinan wolde 
990 ii'en ffir-g6d, pat pas ahlaecan 

bl6do;e beadu-fohne onberan wolde. 



XVI. The Banquet and the Gifts. 

pA was listen hre^e Hcort innan-weard 
folmum gefratwod : fela psera was 
wera and wlfa, pe pat win-reced, 
995 gest-sele gyredon. Gold-ffig scinon 
web after wagum, wundor-si6ua fela 
secga gehwylcum pAra ]'e on sw3'lc stara?. 
Was pat beorhte bold t6brocen swlSe 
eal inne-weard iren-bendum fast, 
1000 heorras t6hlidene ; hr6f dna genas 



32 BEOWULF. [1001-1035. 

ealles ansund, ]>k se aglseca, 

fja-en-dsedum fdg on fleam gewand, 

aldres or-wena. N6 ])at ySe b^'tJ 

t6 befle6nne (fremme se fe wille !) 
1005 ac gesacan sceal sawl-berendra 

nyde genydde niSSa beariia 

grund-b^endra gearwe st6we, 

f'ser his lic-homa leger-bedde fast 

swefeS after symle. pd was sasl and mael, 
1010 ])at t6 healle gang Healfdenes sunu ; 

wolde self C3'ning symbel picgan. 

Ne gefriigen ic ]^k msegSe milran weorode 

ymb h3a*a sinc-gyfan s^l geboeran. 

Biigon pd t6 bence blsed-^gende, 
1015 f3'lle gefaegon. Fiigere gepaggon 

medo-fiil manig inAgas I p^ra 

swi5-hicgende on sele pani hedn, 

HrdSgar and Hr68nlf. Heorot innan was 

fre6ndum iif3'lled ; nalles filcen-stafas 
1020 pe6d-8cyldingas penden fremedon. 

Forgeaf pa Be6wulfe beam Healfdenes 

segen g3''ldenne sigores t6 leane, 

hroden hilte-cumbor, helm and b3Tnan ; 

msere md'56um-sweord manige ges^won 
1025 beforan beorn beran. Be6wnlf gepah 

ful on flette ; n6 he paere feoh-gyfte 

for sce6tendnm scamigan porfte, 

ne gefragn ic fre6ndlicor fe6wer mMmas 

golde geg3Tede gum-manna fela 
1030 in ealo-bence 6Sram gesellan. "^^ 

Ymb I'iis lielmes hr6f lietlfod-beorge 

wirum bewunden walan iltan he61d, 

pat him fSla htfe frecne ne meahton 

scl^r-heard sceSSan, ponne sc3dd-freca 
1035 ongedn gramum gangan scolde. 



1036-1 0(U.] BEOWULF. 33 

HC'ht pii eorla hlc6 cahta mcaras, 

fated-hlc6re, on flet tc6n 

in under eoderas ; )>Ara Annm st6d 

sadol scarwum lab since gewurSad, 
1040 ]>at was hilde-setl hedh-cyninges, 

f>onne swcorda gelAc sunu Healfdenes 

efnan wolde ; n.iefre on 6re lag 

wid-cft8es svig, )?onne wahi fe611on. 

And I'ii Bcowulfe bcga gehwaSres 
1045 eodor Ingwina onweald geteiih, 

wicga and wiepna ; h6t liine wel ])rAcan. 

SwA manlice mrere ])e6den, 

hord-weard liiileSa hea5o-roesas geald 

mearum and mMmum, sw^ h}' nnefre man lyht5, 
1050 se ]?e secgan wile s6S after rilite. 



XVII. Song of Heothgar's Poet — The Lay of 
Hkaef and Hengest. 

pi gyt aeghwylcum eorla drihten 
])dra ]?e mid Bcowulfe brim-lade tedh, 
on ]73ere medu-bcnce ma65um gcsealde, 
yrfe-lafe, and pone senne hcht 

1055 golde forgyldan, ]'one pe Grendel ser 

mane ^cwealdc, swd he hyra md. wolde, 
nefne him witig god W3'rd forst6de 
and fas manncs m6d : metod eallum we61d 
gumena cynncs, swd he nu git de5 ; 

1060 for))an bi8 andgit ^rghwoer selest, 

ferhSes fore-])anc ! fela sccal gebidan 
le6fes and Mt5es, se j^e longe her 
on ]n'ssum Avin-dagum worolde brftcetS. 
paer was sang and sweg samod iitgadere 



34 BEOWULF. [1065-1099. 

1065 fore Healfdenes hilde-wisan, 

gomeu-wudu greted, gid oft wrecen, 

]70iine heal-gamen Hr6Sg^res sc6p 

after medo-bence masnan scolde 

Finnes eaferum, ]->k hie se faer begeat: 
1070 ''HaleS Healfdenes, Hnaf Scyldinga, 

"in Fr . . es wale feallan scolde. 

' ' Ne h^ru Hildeburh b^rian porfte 

' ' eotena tre6we : uns3'nnuni wearS 

' ' beloren le6fum at pam lind-plegan 
1075 " bearnum and brdSrum ; hie on gebyrd hruron 

" gare wunde ; ydt was ge6muru ides. 

"Nalles h61inga H6ces ddhtor 

" meotod-sceaft bemearn, sy56an morgen com, 

' ' ]>k he6 nnder swegle gese6n meahte 
1080 " morSor-bealo mdga, ]?8er he6 ser maeste he61d 

" worolde W3'nne : wig ealle fornam 

"Finnes j^egnas, nemne fe^um anum, 

" l^at he ne mehte on ]>am meSel-stede 

"wig Hengeste wiht gefeohtan, 
1085 " ne ])k wed-lafe wige forpringan 

" ]7e6dnes ]?egne ; ac big him gejjingo budon, 

"pat hie him 6Ser flet eal gerymdon, 

" liealle and heah-setl, pat hie healfre geweald 

"wis eotena beam ^gan mdston, 
1090 "and at feoh-gyftmii Folcwaldan sunu 

" ddgra gehw3dce Dene weorSode, 

' ' Hengestes he4p hringum wenede, 

' ' efne sw^ swiSe sinc-gestre6num 

" f attan goldes, sw^ he Fresena cyn 
1095 "on be6r-sele b^ddan wolde. 

" p^ hie getrtiwedon on twd healfa 

' ' f aste frioSn-waere ; Fin Hengeste 

" elne unflitme ^Sum benemde, 

"pat he pd wed-lAfe weotena d6me 



1100-1130.] BKUWL'LF. 35 

1100 "drum heolde, ]>iit j'oer a3nig mon 

" wordiim ne worciim wiere ne broece, 
" ne ]mrh inwit-scaro 03 fro genuienden, 
" |?eah hie hira bedg-gyfaii baiian folgedon 
" ]je6den-leiise, pit him swd gepearfod was: 

1105 " g3'f ]?onne Fiysna hwylc frecuan spraece 
" I'iis morSor-hetes m3'udgiend wiere, 
" ])onne hit sweordes ecg sySSan scolde. 
' ' A'5 was geafned and icge gold 
" dhafen of horde. Here-Scyldinga 

1110 " betst beado-rinca was on bael gearu; 
" at ])am dde was 65-gesyne 
" swdt-fah syrce, sw^n eal-gylden, 
" eofer iren-heard, aSeUno^ manis: 
" wundum dw3'rded ; some on wale crungon. 

1115 "Het pd Hildebnrh at Hniifes dde 
" Inre selfre sunu sweoloSe befastan, 
" bdn-fatu barnan and on bael d6n. 
" Earme on eaxle ides gnornode, 
" geomrode giddum ; giiS-rinc dstdh. 

1120 "Wand to wolenum wiil-fyra msest, 
" hh'node for hldwe ; hafelan raulton, 
" ben-geato burston, ponne blod iltspranc 
"ld5-bite lices. Llg ealle forswealg, 
" gaesta gifrost, pdra pe pa^r gu5 fornam 

1125 " bega folces ; was hira blaed scacen. 



XVIII. The Gleeman's Tale is Ended. 

" Gewiton him pd wigend wica ne6sian, 
" fre6ndum befeallen Fr^'sland gose6n, 
" hdmas and hed-burh. Hengest pd gyt 
" will-fdgne winter wunode mid Finne 
1130 '•'• ealles unhlitme ; eard gemnnde, 



36 BEOWULF. [1131-1165. 

" l^edh ])e he ne meahte on mere diifan 
" hringed-stefnan ; holm storme we61, 
' ' won wis wincle ; winter ySe beledc 
" is-gebinde 6S pat 65er com 

1135 " ge^r m geardas, swa nii g3't deS, 
" ])d ]:'e syngales s^le bewitiaS, 
" wuldor-torhtan weder. pa was winter scacen, 
" f ager foldan bearm ; fundode wrecca, 
* ' gist of geardum ; lie id g3'rn-wrace 

1140 " swiSor j^dlite, j^onne t6 sae-lade, 
" gif he torn-gem6t ]nirhte6n mihte, 
"pat he eotena beam inne gemunde. 
" Sw4 he ne forwjTnde worold-raedenne, 
" ])onne him tMnlafing hilde-le6man, 

1145 " billa shiest, on bearm d3Tle : 

" piis wseron mid eotennm ecge cASe. 
' ' Swylce ferhS-frecan Fin eft begeat 
" sweord-bealo sliSen at his selfes h^m, 
" si56an grimne gripe GuShlf ond Osldf 

1150 "after SDe-si8e sorge moendon, 

" iitwiton wetina dsel ; ne meahte wiifre m6d 
" forhabban in hreSre. pil was heal hroden 
" fe6nda feorum, swilce Fin slagen, 
"coaling on corSre, and se6 cwen numen. 

1155 " Sce6tend Scyldiuga id scypum feredon 
" eal in-gesteald eorS-cyninges, 
" sw3'lce hie ilt Finnes ham findan meahton 
" sigla searo-gimma. Hie on siE-lade 
" drihtlice wif t6 Denum feredon, 

1160 "Lneddon 16 le6dum." Le65 wiis dsungen, 
gleo-mannes gyd. Gamen eft ^stith, 
beorhtode benc-sweg, byrelas sealdon 
win of wunder-fatum. pd cwom Wealh]7e6 forS 
g^n under gyldnnm hedge, pser pd g6dan twegon 

1165 ScTston suhter-gefaderau ; ])k gyt was hiera sib atgiidere 



1166-1192.] BEOWULF. 37 

aegliwylc 65rum trywe. Swylce paer IlftnferS J'^le 
at f6tum silt freiln Scyldinga : gehwylc hiora his ferhSe 

trc6w(le, 
I'iit he hiit'de m6d inicL4, peah ]>e he his m^gum ncere 
^rfilst iit ecga gelAcum. Sprite pA ides Scyldinga : 

1170 " Onfoh |)issnm fnlle, fre6-dnhten mlii, 
" sinces brytta ; ]>u. on ssehnn wes, 
"gold-wine gumena, and t6 Gedtum spree 
" mildum wordum ! Swd sceal man d6n. 
" Be6 wis Geiitas gliid, geofena gem3ndig ; 

1175 " nean and feorran ]m nu fri^^t hafast. 

"Me man siigde, ])at ]m pe for snnn wolde 
" here-rinc habban. Heorot is gefelsod, 
" bedh-sele beorhta ; brdc penden ]ui m6te 
" manigi'a mMa and pinnm magnm la^f 

1180 " folc and rice, ponne f>u fov6 scyle 
" metod-sceaft se6n. Ic mmne can 

"gladne UroSnlf, ])at he ])ii geogoSe wile 
" drum healdan, gyf ]m ser ponne he, 
"wine Scildinga, w'orold oflsetest ; 

1185 " wene ic, j'iit he mid g6de gyldan wille 
" uncran eaferan, gif he ])at eal gemon, 
" hwiit wit t6 willan and t6 wor5-myndum 
" umbor wesondum sev drna gefremedon." 
Hwearf fd bt bence, ];a?r Inre byre waeron, 

1190 Hr^5ric and Hr65mnnd, and haleSa beam, 
giogo^ iitgadere ; psev se g6da silt 
Be6wulf Gedta be psem gebr65rum twsem. 



38 BEOWULF. [1193-1222. 

XIX. 

Beowulf's Jewelled Collar. The Heroes Rest. 

Him was ful boren and fre6iid-lat5u 

wordum bewagned and wnnden gold 
1195 estum gee^wed, earm-hredde tw^, 

hragl and hringas, heals-bedga msest 

]7^ra l^e ic on foldan gefriigen hilbbe. 

Na3nigne ic under swegle selran lij'Tde 

hord-mdSSura hiileSa, S3"55an Hitma atwag 
1200 t6 psere byrhtan b^^rig Brosinga mene, 

sigle and sinc-fiit, searo-ni6as fealh 

Eormenrices, geceas ^cne raed. 

pone bring bafde Higebtc Gedta, 

nefa Swertinges, nj'hstan slSe, 
1205 si(S6an he under segne sine ealgode, 

wal-redf werede ; li^aie Wyrd fornam, 

S3"55an he for wlenco wedn ^hsode, 

faehSe id Frysum ; he ]rX fratvve wag, 

eorclan-stdnas ofer }^(Sa ful, 
1210 rice pe6den, he under rande gecranc ; 

gehwearf |^^ in Francna faSra ^ feorh cyninges, 

bre6st-gewaedu and se beali somod : 

wyrsan wig-frecan wal reiifedon 

after gti(5-sceare, Geata le6de 
1215 hrea-wic he61don. Heal sw^ge onfeng. 

Wealh]'e6 macSelode, he6 fore ydm. werede sprac : 

"BrAc Jisses beages, Be6wulf, le6fa 

" hj'se, mid hsele, and jnsses hriigles ne6t 

" pe6d-gestre6na, and ge])e6h tela, 
1220 " cen ])ec raid crafte and ]?yssum cnyhtum wes 

" l^ra 116e ! ic ])e ]?as ledn geman. 

" Hafast ]m gef^red, J^at j^e feor and nedh 



122^5-1251.] be6wulf. 39 

'" ealne wide-ferhcS weras clitiga^, 
" efne swd side swd sa? bcbftgeS 

1225 " windigc wcallas. Wes, J'cndon |ni lifige, 
^'atSeling cadig ! ic J'C an tela 
" sinc-gestreuna. Be6 ]ni suna minum 
" da}dum gedefe dreiim liealdende! 
"Her is a}ghwylc eoii 6Srum getiywe, 

1230 " m6des milde, maii-diibtne hold, 

" pegnas syndon gepwoere, ]>e6d eal gearo : 
" druncne diTlit-guman, d66 swd ic bidde ! " 
Eode ]'d t6 setle. paer wiis symbla C3'st, 
druncon win weras : wyrd ne cftMon, 

1235 geo-sceaft grimme, swd bit dgangen wearS 
eorla manegiini, s3-56an oefen cwom 
and liim IlroSgAr gewdt t6 bofe sinum, 
rice id riiste. Reced weardode 
unrlin eorla, swd bie oft ser d3'don : 

1240 benc-J'clu beredon, bit geond-brsedcd wearS 
beddum and bolstrum. Be6r-scealca sum 
fus and faege flet-riiste gebedg. 
Setton liim t6 bedfdura hilde-randas, 
bord-wudu beorbtan ; ]?8er on bence was 

1245 ofer aSelinge }"5-ges6ne 

bea6o-stedpa belm, bringed b3Tne, 
])rec-wudu jnTnilic. Was ])edw byra, 
])at bie oft waeron an wig gearwe, 
ge at bam ge on berge, ge gebwaSer J^dra 

1250 efne swylce ra{?ela, swylce bira man-drylitne 
pearf gesselde ; wiis se6 pe6d tilu. 



40 BEOWULF. [1252-1282. 

XX. 

Grendel's Mother Attacks the Ring-Danes. 

SiGON ])k id slaepe. Sum s^re angeald 

sefen-raste, sw^ him fal-offc gelamp, 

siSSaii gokl-sele Grenclel warode, 
1255 miriht iifnde, 68 ])at ende becwom, 

swylt after sjiinum. pat ges^ne wearS, 

wid-cti6 werum, )?atte wrecend )?d gji; 

lifde after ktSum, lauge ])rage 

after guS-ceare ; Grendles m6dor, 
1260 ides aglsec-wif yrmSe gemunde, 

se ])e wiiter-egesan wimian scolde, 

cealde stredmas, siSSan Cain wearS 

id ecg-banau ^ngan br^Ser, 

faderen-maege ; he ])k fag gew^t, 
1265 morSre gemearcod man-dredm fle6n, 

westeii warode. panon w6c fela 

ge6sceaft-gasta ; was fsera Grendel sum, 

heoro-wearh hetelic, se at Heorote fand 

waccendiie wer wiges bidan, 
1270 jjoer him aglaeca at-graepe wearS ; 

hwaSre he gemunde magenes strenge, 

gim-fiiste gife, ])e him god sealde, 

and him t6 anwaldan dre geiyfde, 

fr6fre and fultum : ]->y he ])one feond ofercwom, 
1275 gehnfBgde helle g^st : ])k he hedn gewdt, 

dredme bedaeled dedS-wic se6n, 

man-cynnes fe6nd. And his mddor pd gjt 

glfre and galg-m6d gegan wolde 

sorh-fulne slS, suna dedS wrecan. 
1280 Com ])k t6 Heorote, )>£er Hring-Dene 

geond yat said swsefun. pk l^ser s6na wearS 

ed-hwyrft eorlum, si66an inne fealh 



1283-1317.] BEOWULF. 41 

Grendles iiiAdor ; wiis se gryre liissa 

cl'iie swil iiiicle, swA bitt niagiSa criift, 
1285 wlg-gryrc wiles be wiT^pned-iiien, 

ponnc beorii buiuleii, hamere gepuren, 

sweord swate filb swiii ofer behne, 

eegum dybtig andweard sch'eS. 

pit wiis oil bealle beard-eeg togen, 
1'290 sweord ofer setbim, sid-rand maiiig 

bafeii banda fast ; bebn ne geinunde, 

b3Tnan side, j'e bine se br6ga angeat. 

He6 wiis on 6fste, wolde tit panon 

feore beorgan, ]'a be6 onfiindeu wiis ; 
1295 braSe be6 iiSelinga dune biifde 

fiiste befangen, ))a be6 t6 fenne gang ; 

se wiis Hr65giire biileSa leofqst 

on gesiSes bild be sasin tweonum, 

rice rand-wiga,. pone ]?e be6 on riiste d-bredt, 
1300 blaed-fiistne beorn. Nils Beowulf poer, 

ac wiis 65er in aer geteobbod 

after mii66um-gife miieram Geate. 

Hredm wearS on Heorote. He6 under beolfre genam 

cA(5e fobiie ; cearu wiis geniwod 
1305 geworden in wicum : ne wiis piit gewrixle til, 

J>at bie on bA bealfa bicgan scoldon 

fre6nda feoriim. pd w^iis fr6d cyning, 

btir bilde-rinc, on breon m6de, 

sy55an be aUlor-pegn unlyfigendne, 
1310 })one de6restan deddne wisse. 

HraSe w^iis t6 bftre Be6wulf fetod, 

sigor-eddig secg. Samod ser-dage 

eode eorla sum, iiSele cempa 

self mid gesiSum, paer se snottra bM, 
1315 bwiiSre bim al-walda aefre wille 

after wed-spelle wyrpe gefremman. 

Gang ]){i after fldre Ard-wyrSe man 



42 BEOWULF. [1318-1848. 

mid his hand-scale (heal-wudu dynede) 
ydt he fone wisan word am hnoegde 
1320 fredn Ingwina ; fragn gif him waere 
after ne6d-la6u niht getfese. 



XXI. SoREow AT Heoeot : ^schere's Death. 

Hr66gar maSelode, hehn Scildinga : 

"Ne frill ]m after sselum ! Sorh is geniwod 

"Denigea le6dum. DeM is Asc-here, 

1325 ^'Yrmenlafes yldra br6t^or, 

"mill riiii-wita and min raed-bora, 

" eaxl-gestealla, poiiiie we on orlege 

" hafelan weredon, ]7onne hniton feSan, 

" eoferas cnysedan ; swylc scolde eorl wesan 

1330 ^'dMing 8er-g6d, swjIq Asc-here was. 
"WearS him on Heorote t6 haiid-banan 
' ' wal-gnest wafre ; ic ne w^t hwader 
"atol sese wlanc eft-sl5as tedh, 
"fylle gefraegnod. He6 ])4 faehSe wrac, 

1335 "]7e ]7U gystran niht Grendel cwealdest 
" ]mrh hsestne hM heardum clammmn, 
' ' for|7an he t6 lange le6de mine 
" wanode and wjTde. He at wige gecrang 
" ealdres scyldig, and nu 6(5er cwom 

1340 " militig niitn-sca'Sa, wolde liyre m£eg wrecan, 
"ge feor hafa5 faeli'Se gestifiled, 
" pas ])e ])incean mag ])egne monegiim, 
" se ])e after sinc-gyfan on sefan gre6te'S, 
" hreSer-bealo hearde; nu se6 hand Mge'S, 

1345 " se j^e e6w wel-hwylcra wilna dohte. 
" Ic J^at lond-bftend le6de mine 
" sele-r£edende secgan hyrde, 
"fat hie ges^won swjdce twegen 



1349-1383.] BEOWULF. 43 

" niicle mearc-stapaii m6ras licaldan, 

1330 " ellor-gaestas : pppra 6(5er wiis, 

" j'iis ]'e hie gowislicost gewitan meahton 
" klese oiiliciics, 6t)er earin-sceapen 
"on weres wiistmiim wriic-ldstas triid, 
" niifiie he was inara ];onne .nenig man 66er, 

1355 "pone on geiir-daguni Grendel nemdoa 
" fold-bftcnde : nO hie fiidcr cunnon, 
" hwafier him oenig was a3r Ticenned 
'^dyrnra gfista. Hie d^gel lond 
" warigeaS. w^ulf-hleoSn, windige nassas, 

1360 " frecne fen-gelad, fser fyrgen-streiim 
"under niissa genipu niSer gewiteS, 
" fl6d under foldan ; nis j'iit feor heonon 
" mll-gemearces, ydt se mere standeS, 
" ofer jjiim hongiaS hrinde bearwas, 

1365 " wudu wyrtum fast, water oferhelma^. 

" paer miig nihta gehwam nl6-wundor se6n, 
" fyr on fl6de ; no pas frud leofa(5 
" gumeua bearna, pat pone grund wite ; 
" peah pe hoeS-stapa hundum geswenced, 

1370 "heorot hornum trum holt-wudu sece, 
" feorran gefl}'med, cer he feorh seleS, 
" aldor on 6fre, 9er he in wille, 
" hafelan hydan. Nis pitt he6ru st6w: 
" ponon yS-geblond up ^stigeS 

1375 "won id wolcnum, ponne wind styretS 
"laS gewidru, 65 pat lyft drysmaS, 
"roderas reotaS. Nu is rsed gelang 
' ' eft tit ]ie Anum ! Eard git ne const, 
"frecne st6we, paer pu findan miht 

1380 " sinnigne secg : sdc gif pu dyrre ! 
" Ic pe pd faehSe fe6 lednige, 
" eald-gestre6num, swA ic ser d3'de, 
" wundnum goldc, gyf pu on weg cymest." 



44 BEOWULF. [1384-U13. 

XXII. 

Beowulf Seeks the Monster in the Haunts of 

THE Nixies. 

Be6wulf maSelode, beam Ecg|)e6wes : 
1385 " Ne sorga, snotor guma ! selre biS aegliwam, 

"pat he his freond wrece, ponne he fela murne ; 

" tire aeghwj'lc sceal ende gebidan 

" worolde lifes ; wjTce se ]?e ni6te 

" d6mes ser dedSe ! ])at biS driht-guman 
1390 " unlifgendum after shiest. 

" Aiis, rices weard ; uton hra'Se fi^ran, 

' ' Grendles m^gan gang scedwigan ! 

" Ic hit fe geh^te : n6 he ou hehu losat5, 

" ne on fold an faSm, ne on fyrgen-holt, 
1395 " ne on g^'fenes grund, gd ]iaer he wille. 

' ' pys ddgor ]m gepyld hafa 

"wedna gehwylces, sw^ ic ]>e wene t6 ! " 

Ahle6p )?d se gomela, gode ]?ancode, 

mihtigan drihtne, )?as se man gesprac. 
1400 p^ was Hr65gdre hors gebseted, 

wieg wunden-feax. Wisa fengel 

geatolic gengde ; gum-f^5a st6p 

lind-hiibbendra. Ldstas wseron 

after wald-swa'Siim wide gesyne, 
1405 gang ofer grundas ; gegnum f6r fd 

ofer m3'rcan m6r, mago-j^egna bar 

pone s^lestan stWol-ledsne, 

pdra ])e mid HrdSgdre hdm eahtode. 

Ofer-eode pd aSeUnga beam 
1410 stedp stdn-hU6o, stige nearwe, 

enge dn-paSas, un-cftS gehtd, 

neowle nassas, nicor-hAsa fela; 

he fedra sum beforan gengde 



1414-1448.] BEOWULF. 45 

wisra iiionna, wong scedwian, 
1415 66 put he foeringa fyrgen-bedmas 

ofer liArne stfm hleonian fuiide, 

wyn-ledsne wudu ; wiitcr under st6d 

dre6rig and gedrcfed. Denum eallum was, 

winuni Scyldinga, weorce on m6de, 
1420 id gepolianne pegne monegum, 

oncyS eorla gchwiim, sySSan Asc-heres 

on ]'am liolm-clife liafelan metton. 

F16d blode we61 (folc t6 soegon) 

hdtan heolfre. Plorn stundum song 
1425 mslic f//rcZ-le6S. FeSa cal gesiit ; 

gesdwon ]?d iifter wiitere wyrm-cynnes fela, 

sellice soe-dracan sund cunnian, 

swylce on niis-lileoSum nicras licgean, 

]?d on undern-miel oft bewitiga'5 
1430 soiii-fulne si5 on segl-rdde, 

wyrmas and wil-de6r ; hie on weg hruron 

bitere and gebolgne, bearhtm ongedton, 

g<i6-horn galan. Sumue Gedta le6d 

of fldn-bogan feores getwaefde, 
1435 y5-gewinnes, j'iit him on aldre st6d 

here-stral hearda ; he on hohne was 

sundes pe ssenra, pe h3'ne sw^'lt fornani. 

HraSe wear5 on ySum mid eofer-spre6tnm 

heoro-hocyhtum hearde genearwod, 
1440 nl5a genaeged and on nils togen 

wundorlic wjfig-bora ; weras seedwcdon 

gryrelicne gist. Gyrede hine Beowulf 

eorl-gewiedum, nalles for ealdre mearn : 

scolde here-byrne hondum gel)roden, 
1445 sld and searo-fdh, sund cunnian, 

se6 pe bdn-c6fan beorgan oCl6e, 

pat him hilde-grdp hreSre ne mihte, 

eorres inwit-feng, aldre gescet55an; 



46 Be6wULF. [1449-U79. 

ac se hwita helm hafelan werede, 

1450 se ])e mere-griiiiclas meiigan scolde, 
s^can suiid-gebland since geweorSad, 
befongen frea-wrasnum, svvd liine fjTii-dagum 
worhte waepna smi5, wundrum te6de, 
besette swin-licum, ];at hine sySSaii 116 

1455 brond ne beado-mecas bitan iie meahton. 
Nils ]:at foime msetost magen-fultuma, 
]mt him on ].earfe hlh ])y\e HrdSgares ; 
was ydm haft-mece Hrnnting nama, 
fat was dn foran eald-gestre6na ; 

1460 ecg was iren, dter-tdnum fah, 

Mi^'rded heaSo-swate ; njsfre hit at hilde ne swdc 
manna sengum })dra J^e hit mid mundum bewand, 
se Ipe giyre-siSas gegdn dorste, 
folc-stede fdra ; nas pat forma siS, 

1465 fat hit ellen-weorc afnan scolde. 
Hftrii ne gemunde mago Ecgldfes 
eafoSes craftig, ]>at he ser gesprac 
wine druncen, fd he fas wnepnes onldh 
selran sweord-frecan : selfa ne dorste 

1470 under 3'6a gewin aldre gen^San, 

driht-sc3'pe dre6gan ; f aer he d6me forle^s, 
ellen-maerSura. Ne was fam 65rum swd, 
sjSSan he hine id gA5e gegyred hafde. 



XXIII. The Battle with the Watee-Drake. 

Be6wulf maSelode, beam Ecgfe6wes : 
1475 " gef enc nu, se msera maga Healfdenes, 
" snottra fengel, nu ic eom siSes its, 
"gold-wine gumena, hwat wit geo sprsecon, 
' ' gif ic at f earfe f inre scolde 
"aldre linnan, fat fu me d wsere 



1480-1514.] BEOWULF. 47 

1480 " forS-gewitennm on fiider stiile ; 

" wes ];u mund-bora niiniim mago-fegnum, 

" hond-gcsellum, gif mec liild uime : 

" swylce Jul yd mddmas, ])e ]m me sealdest, 

" IIr65gdr le6fa, Higeirice onsend. 
1485 " Miig ponne on piim golde ongitan Gedta diyhten, 

" gcseun siiiiu IlucSles, ponnc he on piit sine staraS, 

" juit ie gum-cystum g6dnc funde 

" bedga bryttan, bredc ponne m6ste. 

*'And ]m IianferS last ealde Itife, 
1490 " wriitlic wa3g-sweord wid-cti6ne man 

' ' heard-ecg habban ; ic me mid Hruntinge 

" d6m gewyrce, o55e mec dedS nime6." 

After l^aem wordum Weder-Geata le6d 

dfste mid elne, nalas andsware 
1495 bidan Tvolde ; brim-wylm onf^Sng 

hilde-rince. pA, wiis liwil diiges, 

ser he pone grund-wong ongytan mehte. 

S6na ])at onfunde, se j^e fldda begong 

heoro-gifre beheold hand missera, 
1500 grim and graedig, j^iit pier gumena sum 

iil-wihta eard ufan cunnode. 

Griip pa t^gednes, gfi5-rinc gefeng 

atolan clommiim ; n6 ];y- aer in gesc6d 

hiilan lice : bring Atan 3'mb-bearh, 
1505 pat he6 pone fyrd-hom purh-f6n ne mihte, 

locene IcoSo-syrcan ktSan fingrum. 

Bar pd se6 brim-wylf, pd he6 to botme com, 

hringa pengel t6 hofe sinum, 

swd he ne mihte nd (lie piis m6dig wits) 
1510 waepna gewealdan, ac hine wnndra pits fela 

swencte on sunde, sae-deor monig 

hilde-tuxum here-S3'rcan brilc, 

6hton aglaecan. pTi se eorl ongeat, 

pat he in niS-sele ndt-hwylcum was, 



48 BEOWULF. [1515-1549. 

1515 ]}seY him noenig water wihte ne sce'Sede, 

ne him for hrof-sele hriiian ne mehte 
• faer-gripe flodes : f3T-le6ht geseah, 

bUcne le6maii beorhte scinan. 

Ongeat l^d se g6da grund-wyrgenne, 
1520 mere-wif mihtig ; magen-raes forgeaf 

hilde-bille, bond swenge ne oftedh, 

fat hire on hafelan hring-mrel kg6l 

graedig gA6-lc65. pa se gist onfand, 

ydt se beado-leoma bitan nolde, 
1525 aldre sce66an, ac se6 ecg geswdc 

))e6dne at f earfe : ]?olode aer fela 

hond-gem6ta, hebu oft gescar, 

faeges fyrd-hriigl : pat was forma siS 

de6rum mdSme, pat his d6m Mag. 
1530 Eft was an-raed, nalas ebies lilt, 

maerSa gemj^ndig maeg H3'gelaces ; 

wearp p^ wunden-mael wrattnm gebunden 

yrre oretta, pat hit on eorSan lag, 

stiS and st3'l-ecg ; strenge getruwode, 
1535 mund-gripe magenes. SwA sceal man d6n, 

ponne he iit gCiSe gegtm penceS 

longsnmne lof, nd 3-mb his lif ceara^. 

Gefeng pt\ be eaxle (nalas for faehSe mearn) 

GftS-Gedta le6d Grendles mddor ; 
1540 briigd pd bead we heard, pd he gebolgen was, 

feorh-geniSlan, pat he6 on flet gebe^h. 

He6 him eft hraSe and-ledn forgeald 

grimman gr^pum and him tdgednes f(§ng ; 

oferwearp p^ werig-mod wtgena strengest, 
1545 f<S5e-cempa, pilt he on f3'lle wearS. 

Ofsiit pd ]:one sele-g3^st and h3're seaxe getedh, 

br^d ayicl brfm-ecg wolde hire beam wrecan, 

dngan eaferan. Him on eaxle lag 

bre6st-net broden ; pat gebearh feore, 



1550-1570.] BEOWULF. 49 

1550 wicS ord and wiS ecgc ingang lbrst6d. 

Iliifde I'A, forsi^iod sunn Ecg))e6wes 

under gvnne grand, GeAta cempa, 

nemne him hcaSo-byrne helpe gefremede, 

here-net hearde, and hfilig god 
1555 gewe61d wig-sigor, witig drihten ; 

rodera roedend hit on rj^ht gesc6d, 

ySelice S3'6San he eft dst6d. 



XXIV. Beowulf Slays the Sprite. 

Geseah ])Ci on searwum sige-eddig bil, 
eald sweord eotenisc ecgum ]>yhtig, 

1560 wigena weorS-m^'nd : piit ivcls wa^pna cj'st, 
btiton hit wits mAre ]'onne a^nig mon 66er 
t<5 beadu-lace iitberan meahte 
g6d and geatolic giganta geweorc. 
. He geleng pa fetel-hilt, freca Scildinga, 

1565 hre6h and heoro-grim hring-ma^l gebriigd, 
aldres orw^na, yrringa sloh, 
])'dt hire wi6 halse heard grdpode, 
bdn-hringas brae, bil eal ]nirh-w6d 
fsegne flaeso-homan, he6 on flet gecrong ; 

1570 sweord was sw^tig, secg weorce gefeh. 
Lixte se le6ma, le6ht inne st6d, 
efne swd of hefene hridre scinex'!) 
rodores candel. He after recede wldt, 
hw^earf ])^ be wealle, waepen hafenade 

1575 heard be liiltftm Higelaces j'egn, 

j'rre and An-rted. Nas se6 ecg fracod 
hilde-rinee, ac he hraSe wolde 
Grendle forgyldan gd^i-raesa fela 
]?dra ])e he geworhte id West-Denum 



50 BEOWULF. [1580-1614. 

1580 oftor micle j^onne on senne siS, 

fonne he Hr6^gdres heorS-gene4tas 

sl61i on sweofote, slaepende frat 

folces Denigea fyf-t^^ne men 

and 66er swylc lit of-ferede, 
1585 MSlicu lac. He him pits ledn forgeald, J 

r^5e cempa, 16 pas pe he on raste geseah 

gu6-w6rigne Grendel licgan, 

aldor-ledsne, sw^ him ser gesc6d 

hild at Heorote ; hrd wide sprong, 
1590 sy5Sau he lifter dedSe drepe prowade, 

heoro-sweng heardne, and hine pa heafde becearf. 

S6na pat gesdwon snottre ceorlas, 

p^ pe mid Hr65gare on hohii wliton, 

pat was 3'S-geblond eal gemenged, 
1595 brim blode fall : blonden-feaxe 

gomele ymb g6dne ongeador sprtecon, 

piit hig ])as aSelinges eft iie wendoii, 

pat he sige-hreSig secean e6me 

mserne pe6den ; pA piis monige gewearS, 
1600 pat hine se6 brim-wylf dbroten hiifde. 

pd com n6n diiges. Nas ofge^fon 

hwate Scyldingas ; gewat him hdm ponon 

gold-wine gnmena. Gistas s^tan, 

m6des se6ce, and on mere staredon, 
1605 wiston and lie w^ndon, piit hie heora wine-drihten 

selfne ges^won. p^ piit sweord ongan 

iifter heaSo-swdte hilde-gicelum 

wig-bil wanian ; pat wiis wundra sum, 

piit hit eal gemealt ise gelicost, 
1610 ponne forstes bend fiider onlaeteS, 

onwindeS wiil-rapas, se pe ge weald hafaS 

ssela and maela ; piit is s6(5 metod. 

Ne nom he in ]>vem wicum, Weder-Gedta le6d, 

maSm-aehta m^, peh he peer monige geseah, 



1G15-1G19.] BEOWULF. 51 

1615 btitoii ];onc hafclan and pd hilt somod, 

since fAge ; sweord oer gemcalt, 

forbarn brodcn ma?l : wiis piit bl6d t6 pas liAt, 

aettren cllor-gcTst, se Jwr inne swcalt. 

S6na "sviis on sonde, se je scr at sacce gebdd 
1620 ^vig-hiyre wracSra, wiiter up |nirli-dedf; 

wairon 3'6-gcbland cal gef'iclsod, 

edcne eardas, ]jd se ellor-gast 

ofl^t l!f-dagas and I'As bienan gesceaft. 

Com ])^ t6 lande lid-manna helm 
1625 swi6-m6d sw3'mman, sce-lixce gefeah, 

magen-bj'i'Senne J'lira pe he him mid hiifde. 

Eodon him ];A t6geanes, gode pancodon, 

piT^lic ]>egna heilp, |7e6dnes gefegon, 

j^iis I'e hi h^'ne gesundne gese6n m6ston. 
1630 pA wiis of I'iim hrdran helm and byrne 

lungre dK*sed : lagu drusade, 

wiiter under wolcnum, wal-dre6re fag. 

Ferdon forS ponon feSe-lastum 

ferhSum fiigne, fold-weg mnston, 
1635 cti5e strsete ; C3'ning-balde men 

from piim holm-clifc hafelan bseron 

earfoSlice heora a?ghwii6rum 

fela-modigra : fe6wer scoldon 

on 'Siim wiil-stenge weorcum geferian 
1640 t6 piim gold-sele Grendles heafod, 

65 pilt semninga t6 sele c6mon 

frome f3'rd-hwate fedwer-t^'ne 

Geata gongan ; gum-diyhten mid 

m6dig on gemonge meodo-wongas trad. 
1645 pA com m gfin ealdor pegna, 

dsed-cene mon d6me gcwurSad, 

hiile hilde-deor, Hr65gttr gretan : 

pd wiis be feaxe on flet boren 

Grendles hedfod, paer guman druncon, 



52 BEOWULF. [1650-1680. 

1650 egesltc for eoiiam and psere iclese mid: 
wlite-se6n wratlic weras ons^won. 



XXV. Hrothgar's Gratitude : He Discourses. 

Be6wulf maSelode, beam Ecg}?e6wes : 

"Hwat! we pe ])^s sse-ldc, siinu Healfdenes, 

" le6d Scyldinga, lustum brdhtoii, 
1655 "tires 16 t^cne, pe ]m lier t6 16cast. 

"Ic ]?at uns6fte ealdre gedigde : 

" wige under watere weorc gen^Sde 

" earfoSlice, at-rihte was 

" gA5 getwsefed, nj'mc^e mec god sc3^1de. 
1660 " Ne meahte ic at hilde mid Hruntinge 

"wilit gewyrcan, ]?etlli ]mt wsepen duge, 

" ac me geASe 3'lda waldend, 

' ' ]?at ic on wage geseali wlitig liangian 

' ' eald sweord edcen (oftost wisode 
1665 " winigea ledsum) pat ic ])y wsepne gebrad. 

" Ofsldh ])k at psere sacce (]>k me ssel dgeald) 

"hdses li3'rdas. pd pat hilde-bil 

"forbarn, brogden moel, sw^ pat bl6d gesprang, 

"h^tost heaSo-sw^ta: ic pat hilt panan 
1670 "fe6ndmT[i atferede ; fyren-dteda wrac, 

" dedS-cwealm Denigea, sw^ hit ged^fe was. 

" Ic hit pe ponne geh^te, pat pu on Heorote mdst 

" sorh-leds swefan mid plnra secga gedr3^ht, 

" and pegna gehwj'lc pinra le6da, 
1675 " duguSe and iogotie, piit pu him ondrsedan ne pearft, 

" pe6den Scyldinga, on p4 liealfe, 

"aldor-bealu eorlum, sw^ pu osr dydest." 

p^ was g3'lden hilt gamelum rince, 

h^rum hild-fruman, on hand gyfen, 
1680 enta aer-geweorc, liit on aeht gehwearf 



1681-17U.] BEOWULF. 53 

after clc6fla hiyre Denigca fredn, 

wundor-smi6a geweorc, and ]^'l ))ds worold ofgeaf 

grom-heort giima, godes andsaca, 

niorSres sc3ldig, and his m6dor edc ; 
1685 on geweald geliwearf worold-cyninga 

])am s^lestan be soem twe6num 

pdra ])e on Sceden-igge sceattas daelde. 

Hr6(5g5;r mat5elode, liylt scedwode, 

ealde Mfe, on piim wiis 6r writen 
1690 fNTn-gewinnes : sySSan flod ofsl6h, 

gifen ge6tende, gigauta C3-n, 

frecne geferdon : ])iit was fremde ]7e6d 

6cean diyhtne, him ])as eude-ledn 

]7urh wiiteres W3'hii waldend sealde. 
1695 SwA wiis on jniem scenniim sctran goldes 

purh rftn-stafas rilite gemearcod, 

geseted and ges?ed, hwam ])at sweord geworht, 

Irena cyst lerest wsere, 

wreo5en-hilt and wjTm-fdh. pk se wisa sprac 
1700 snnn Healfdenes (swigedon ealle) : 

" piit la miig seegan, se fe s6"5 and riht 

" fremeS on folce, . (feor eal gemon 

" eald 65el-weard), ])at pes eoii wiere 

' ' geboren betera ! Blaed is drsered 
1705 " geond wid-wegas, wine min Be6wulf, 

' ' ]?ln ofer pe6da gehwylce. Eal ]m hit ge]?3'ldum healdest, 

' ' magen mid m6des sn3'ttrum. Ic pe sceal mine gelsestan 

" fre6de, swd wit furSum sprsecon ; ]>u. scealt t6 frdfre 

weorSan 

" eal lang-twidig le6dum flnum, 
1710 "hiileSum t6 helpe. Ne wearS Herem6d sw^ 

" eaforum Ecgwelan, Ar-Sc3^1dingum ; 

" ne gewe6x he him t6 willan, ac t6 wal-fealle 

' ' and t6 dedS-cwalum Deniga le6dum ; 

"bredt bolgen-m6d be6d-genedtas, 



54 BEOWULF. [1715-1745. 

1715 " eaxl-gesteallan, 6S ])at he diia hwearf, 
"'m.Tre ]7e6den. mon-dre^mum from: 
"])edh ])e hine mihtig god magenes wjmnum, 
" eafeSiim stepte, ofer ealle men 
" forS gefremede, hwiiSere him on ferhSe gre6w 

1720 "bre6st-hord bl6d-re6w : nallas bedgas geaf 
" Denum after dome; dream-leas gebM, 
" J^at he pits gewmues weorc prowade, 
" leod-bealo longsum. pu ])e Irer be pon, 
' ' gum-C3'ste ongit ! ic ])is gid be pe 

1725 " dwriic wmtmm fr6d. Wundor is t6 secganne, 
"hA mihtig god manna C3'nne 
"]mrh sidne sefan snyttru bryttaS, 
" eard and eorl-scipe, he dh eaka geweald. 
' ' Hwihun he on hifan IseteS hworfan 

1730 " monnes mod-geponc mseran cynnes, 
" seleS him on eSle eorSan wynne, 
" t6 healdanne hleo-bnrh wera, 
" gedeS him swd gewealdene worolde.dselas, 
"side rice, J?at he his selfa ne mag 

1735 "for his nn-snyttrum ende gej^encean ; 

" wunaS he on wiste, n6 hine wiht dweleS, 
"Ml ne jido, ne him inwit-sorh 
"on sefan sweorceS, ne gesacn 6hw9er, 
" ecg-hete e6weS, ac him eal worold 

1740 " wendeS on willan ; he pat w3Tse ne con, 
" 6S pat him on hinan ofer-hygda dsel 
" weaxeS and wridaS, ponne se weard swefe'5, 
" sdwele hyrde : bi'S se sloep t6 fiist, 
"bisgum gebnnden, bona swiSe nedh, 

1745 " se pe of Mn-bogan fjTenum sce6teS. 



174G-1774.] BEOWULF. 55 



XXVL 

The Discourse is Ended. — Be6wulf Prepabes 
TO Leave. 

" poxNE bis on hreSre under helm clreperi 
' ' biteran striilc : him bebeorgan ne con 
"worn wundor-bebodum wergan gdstes ; 
"pinceS him id lytel, ]mt he t6 lange he61d, 

1750 " gytsaS grom-hjdig, nallas on gylp seleS 
' ' f iitte bedgas and he ])ii forS-gesceaft 
"forgyteS and forgymeS, jms pe him aer god sealde, 
" Tvuldres waldend, weor5-m3'nda dael. 
"Hit on ende-staf eft geUmpe'6, 

1755 " piit se lic-homa laene gedre6set5, 
"fiege gefealleS; f^hS 66er t6, 
" se ])e nnmnrnhce madmas daele'S, 
" eorles «er-gestre6n, egesan ne g^aiieS. 
"Bebeorh ]>e pone bealo-ni5, Be6wiilf le6fa, 

1760 " secg se betsta, and |)e ]mt seke gece6s, 
" ^ce rsedas ; oferh3'da ne gyni, 
" maere cempa ! Nu is ]?lnes magnes blaed 
" dne hwlle ; eft s6na bi6, 
"pat pec Ml oSSe ecg eafoSes getw^efeS, 

1765 "o'5Se fyres feng o5Se flodes W3-Im, 
" oS^e gripe meces oSSe gares fliht, 
" o5Se atol yldo, 0(55e eagena bearhtm 
" forsiteS and forsworce^ semninga biS. 
" piit pec, dijht-guma, dedS oferswyt5et5. 

1770 " Sw^ ic Hring-Dena hnnd missera 

" we61d under wolcnum, and hig wige beledc 
" manigum moegSa geond p3'sne middan-geard, 
" ascum and ecgum, pat ic me senigne 
"under swegles begong gesacan ne tealde. 



56 BEOWULF. [1775-1809. 

1775 "Hwiit! me ]>as on ^Sle edwenden cwom, 

"gym after gomeiie, seo56an Grendel wear^, 

" eald-gewinna, in-genga miii : 

" ic ]78ere s6cne singales wag 

" m6d-ceare micle. piis sig metode ]?anc, 
1780 " ^cean drihtne, ]?as pe ic on aldre gebM, 

' ' J^at ic on Ipone hafelan lieoro-dre6rigne 

' ' ofer eald gewin eagum starige ! 

" Gd nu t6 setle, s3-mbel-w3'nne dre6h 

' ' wig-geweorSad : unc sceal worn fela 
1785 " mdSma gem?enra, siSSan morgen biS.'* 

Gedt wiis glad-m6d, ge6ng s6na t6, 

setles ne6san, swa se snottra Mht. 

p^ was eft swd ser ellen-rdfum, 

flet-sittendum fiigere gereorded 
1790 ni6wan stefne. Niht-helm geswearc 

deorc ofer dr3iit-giimum. Diigu5 eal ^r^s ; 

wolde blonden-feax beddes ne6san, 

gamela Scylding. Geat ungemetes we'l, 

rdfue rand-wigan restan 13'ste : 
1795 s6na him sele-j^egn siSes w^rgmn, 

feorran-cundnm for6 wisade, 

se for andrysnum ealle beweotede 

pegnes fearfe, sw3'lce ]?y d6gore 

liedSo-liSende habban scoldon. 
1800 Reste bine ])h rftm-heort; reced hlifade 

gedp and gold-fdh, gast inne swaf, 

68 pat hrefn blaca heofones W3'nne 

bllS-heort bodode. pk com beorht sunne 

scacan ofer grundas; seaman onetton, 
1805 waeron aSelingas eft t6 le6dam 

fAse t6 farenne, wolde feor panon 

cuma collen-ferhS ce61es ne6san. 

H^ht ]7^ se hearda Hrunting beran, 

sunu EcgUfes, Mht his sweord niman, 



1810-1840.] BEOWULF. 57 

1810 lc6flic iren ; siigde him yds leAnes pane, 

cwa5 he fone gA5-wine g6dne tealde, 

wig-criiftigne, nales word urn 16g 

meccs ecge : l^iit was m6dig seeg. 

And ])i\ siiS-frome searwum gearwe 
1815 wigcnd wiiiron, code weorS Denum 

iiSeUng t6 .yppan, J^ffir se 65er was 

hale hilde-de6r, Hr6Sg^r gr^tte. 



XXVII. The Parting Words. 

Be6wulf maSelode, beam Ecg|)e6wes : 
" Nil we SDe-liSend secgan wyllat5 

1820 " feorran cumene, j'iit we fandia5 
" Higeldc s^can. Wseron her tela 
" willum bewenede ; )m As wel dohtest. 
" Gif ic ]7onne on eorSan 6wihte niiig 
" ]nnre -mod-lufan mdran tilian, 

1825 " gumena dryhten, j^onne ic gyt d3Tle, 
" gftS-geweorca ic be6 gearo s6na. 
" Gif ic ydt gefricge ofer flOda begang, 
" ])at pec 3'mbe-sittend egesan p3'wa'5, 
" swd pec hetende hwilum d3-don, 

1830 " ic pe pAsenda pegna bringe, 

" haleSa t6 helpe. Ic on HigeMce w^t, 
" Gedta drj-hten, pedh pe he geong sy, 
" folces hyrde, pat he niec fremman wile 
" word am and worcum, piit ic pe wel hedge, 

1835 " and pe t6 geoce g^r-holt here 

" magenes fultiim, paer pe bi6 manna pearf; 
"gif him ponne HreSric id hofum Gedta 
"gepingeS, pe6dnes beam, he mag pser fela 
' ' fre6nda findan : feor cy$6e be6(S 

1840 " Shiran ges6hte pam pe him selfa dedh." 



58 BEOWULF. [1841-1875. 

Hr6t5gdr maSelode him on andsware : 
" pe pa word-cwydas wittig driliten 
"on sefan sende ! ne hyrde ic snotorlicor 
"on sw^ geongum feore guraan ]dngian : 

1845 " ]ni eart miigenes Strang and on mode fr6d, 
"wis word-cwida. W^n ic talige, 
" gif ]mt gegangeS, ]mt ];e gar n3'me'5, 
" liild heoru-grimme HreSIcs eaferan, 
"Ml ot5'Se iren ealdor ]nnne, 

1850 " folces li3Tde, and ]m ]Ai\ feorh hafast, 
"pat pe Sffi-Geatas s^lran niibben 
" t6 gece6senne c^'ning senigne, 
" hord-weard hiileSa, gif ]m healdan wj'lt 
" maga rice. Me pin m6d-sefa 

1855 " licaS leng swa wel, leofa Beowulf: 

"hafast pu gefered, pat p^m folcum sceal, 
" Gedta le6dum and Gttr-Dennm 
" sib geniiennm and sacu restan, 
" inwit-niSas, pe hie ser drugon ; 

1860 " wesan^ penden ic wealde widan rices, 
" maSmas gemaene, manig 6Serne 
" g6dam gegretan ofer ganotes baS ; 
' ' sceal hring-naca ofer hea'Su bringan 
"Mc and luf-tdcen. Ic pd le6de wtit 

1865 " ge wis fe6nd ge wiS fre6nd faste geworhte, 
" aeghwas nntsele ealde wisan." 
pd git him eorla hleo inne gesealde, 
mago Healfdenes md'Smas twelfe, 
het hine mid paem h\cum leode swsese 

1870 secean on gesyntum, sntide eft cuman. 
Gec3'ste ])fl cyning iibelum g6d, 
pe6den Scildinga pegen betstan 
and be healse genam ; hruron him tedras, 
blonden-feaxum : him wiis bega w^n, 

1875 ealdum infrddum, 65res swiSor, 



1876-1903.] BEOWULF. 59 

|)at lit seoficSan gescoii niAston 
m6(lii>e on meSle. Wiis him sc man t6 ))on lc6f, 
piit he ]!one bre6st-wyhn forbcraii ne mchte, 
ac him on hreSre hygc-bcndum fiist 

1880 iiftcr de6riim men clyrne langaS 

beorn wi6 blode. Him Be6\vulf J^anan, 
gdS-rinc gold-wlanc griis-moldan trad, 
since hremig : sne-genga b^d 
^gend-fredn, se ]?e on ancre rCid. 

1885 pA wiis on gange gifu Hr66gixres 
oft geoehtcd : ])at was An cyning 
aeghwiis oiieahtre, 65 piit hine 3'ldo benam 
magenes wynnum, se pe oft manegum scdd. 



XXVIII. 

Beowulf Eeturjn^s to Geatland. — The Quee^^s 
Hygd and Tiirytho. 

Cwo3i.])ti 16 fl6de fela-m6digra 
1890 hag-stealdra hedj:) ; hring-net boeron, 

loccne leoSo-syrcan. Land-weard onfand 

eft-sl6 eoiia, swA he ter dyde ; 

n6 he mid hearme of hhSes nosan 

giis^as grette, ac him togeanes rdd ; 
1895 cwa5 j'iit wilcuman AVedera le6dum 

scawan scir-hame 16 scipe foron. 

pA wiis on sande sa3-geap naca 

hladen here-waidum, hringed-stefna 

mearum and m0,5mum : milst hUfade 
1900 ofer IIr65giires hord-gestre6nnm. 

He ];am bfit-wearde bunden golde 

swurd gesealde, piit he S3'cS6an was 

on meodu-bence mASme ]>y weor^ra, 



QO BEOWULF. [1904-1938. 

jTfe-l^fe, GewAt him on v/S-nacan, 
1905 drefan de6p wiiter, Den a land ofgeaf. 

pit wiis be maste mere hriigla sum, 

segl sMe fast. Smid-wudu Jnuiede, 

n6 peer w6g-flotan wind ofer y<^um 

siSes getwaefde ; sae-genga for, 
1910 fleiit fdmig-heals forS ofer y^e, 

bunden-stefna ofer brim-stredmas, 

fat hie Gedta cUfu ongitan meahton, 

ctl6e niissas. Ce61 np ge]>rang, 

l3'ft-geswenced on lande stod. 
1915 Hrat5e was iit holme hyS-weard gearo, 

se ])e aer lange tld, leofra manna 

fCls, [it faroSe feor wldtode ; 

saelde t6 sande sid-fa6me scip 

oncer bendum fast, ]\y las h3-m ySa f>rym 
1920 wndu wynsnman forwrecan meahte. 

Het ]Ji\ np beran aSelinga gestre6n, 

friitwe and fiit-gold ; niis him feor ]mnon 

16 gesecanne sinces bryttan : 

Higehtc Hre51ing paer at h^m wuna'5, 
1925 selfa mid gesiSnm sae-wealle nedh ; 

bold was betlic, brego-r6f C3^ning, 

hed on healle, Hj-gd swi5e geong, 

wis, wel-]Hingen, J^eah ])e wintra Ij^t 

under bnrh-locan gebiden hiibbe 
1930 HiireSes dcMitor : nas hi6 hnah swA peah, 

ne id gnedS gifa Gedta le6dam, 

m46m-gestre6na. M6d prySo wag, 

fremu folces cwdn, firen ondr3'sne : 

ngenig ]nit dorste de6r geneSan 
1935 swaesra gesiSa, nefne sin-fred, 

]:'at hire an dages eagum starede ; 

ac him wiil-bende weotode tealde, 

hand-gewriSene : hraSe seot5San was 



1939-1968.] BEOWULF. 61 

after miind-gripe moce ge])inged, 
1940 piit hit sceaSen-moel scvraii m6ste, 

cwealm-boalii cySan, Ne bi5 swylc cw6nltc Jjedw 

idese t<3 efnanne, pedh ]7C liio aeiilicu sy, 

fatte freo(5u-webbe feores onsace 

after lige-torne le6fne mannan. 
1945 Hftru piit onhOhsnode Ileminges maeg; 

ealo drinceude 66er saedan, 

fat lii6 le6d-bealewa las gefremede, 

inwit-ntSa, s}i5^an aerest wearS 

gyfen gold-liroden geongum cempan, 
1950 aSelum di6re, sy5'6an hi6 OfFan flet 

ofer fealone fl6d be fader hire 

siSe ges6hte, ])ger lii6 sy'56an wel 

in gam-st61e, g6de raffire, 

lif-gesceafta lifigende bredc, 
1955 hi61d hcah-liifan wi5 hale(5a brego, 

ealles mon-cynues mine gefrosge 

fone s^lestan bl ssem twe6nuni 

eormen-cynnes ; for]7am Offa was 

geofum and gtiSum g^r-cene man, 
1960 wide geweorSod ; wisddme he61d 

eSel sinne, j^onon E6maer w6c 

hale^um t6 helpe, Heminges maeg, 

nefa Gdrmundes, niSa craftig. 



XXIX. His Aeeival. Hygelac's Reception. 

Gewat him ])k se hearda mid his hond-scole 
1965 sylf after sande ste-wong tredan, 

wide waroSas. Woruld-candel sc^n, 
sigel sASan f&s : hi si5 drugon, 
elne geeodon, t6 pas ]?e eorla hle6, 



62 BEOWULF. [1969-2003. 

bonan Ongeii];e6wes burgiim on innan, 
1970 geoogne gftS-cj'ning gddiie gefrunou 

hringas claelan. Higelace was 

sl5 Be6wulfes sutide gecySed, 

pat paer on worSig wigendra hle6, 

lind-gestealla ' lifigende cwom, 
1975 heaSo-ldces hM id hofe gongan. 

Hra'Se was gerymed, swfi se lica bebedd, 

f(g5e-gestum flet innan-weard. 

Gesat ])^ wis sylfne, se ])'X siicce genas, 

mo3g wi6 moege, sySSan man-dry hten 
1980 }>urh hle65or-cw3'de holdne gegrfitte 

meaglum wordam. Meodu-scencum 

hwearf geond ]^at reced IlareSes ddhtor : 

lufode ])Ci le6de, llS-wsege bar 

bselum to handa. Hiojelac onsran 
1985 shine geseldan in sele }?am hedn 

fiigre fricgean, hyne fyrwet brae, 

hwylce Sa3-Gedta sl6as waeron : 

"H(l lomp e6w on lade, le6fa Bi6wulf, 

' ' ]>Ci ]m faeringa feorr gehogodest, 
1990 "siicce secean ofer sealt water, 

"hilde t6 Hiorote? Ac ]'u HroSg^re 

" wid-ctj5ne wean wilite geb^ttest, 

" mierum ])e6dne? Ic ]>as m6d-ceare 

" sorli-wylmum sedS, sic^e ne trnwode 
1995 " leofes mannes ; ic j^e lange biid, 

" piit ]m ]Jone wiil-goest wilite ne gr^tte, 

" 16te Stl5-Dene S3lfc geweorSan 

"g(l5e wis Grendel. Gode ic pane secge, 

" piis pe ic pe gesmidne geseon m6ste." 
2000 Bi6wulf ma'Selode, beam Ecg])i6wes : 

" piit is nnd^'rne, dryhten Higeldc, 

''^ mcere gemeting nionegmn lira, 

" hwylc o?-Ze^-liwil micer Grendles 



2004-2032.] BEOWULF. 63 

' wcarS on pam wangc, J^aer he worna fela 

' Sige-Scildingum sorge gefremedc, 

' yrmSe t6 aklrc ; ic Jiit eal gcwriic, 

' swii ne gylpaii j^earf Grendelcs maga 

' cenig ofer eorcSaii ulit-lilem ]?one, 

' se ] e lengest leofaS lilSan cjnnes, 

' icnne bifoiigcn. Ic ];aer fiir^um cwom, 

' 16 ];am liring-sele IIr65giir grctan : 

' s6na me se ma3ra mago Healfdenes, 

' sj'SSan he mod-sefan minne cASe, 

' wis his S3'lfes sunu sell getoehte. 

' AVeorod was on wj'nne ; ne seah ic widan feorU 

' under heofenes hwealf heal-sittendra 

' medu-dredm mriran. Hwilum mnera cwen. 

' friSu-sibb foica flet call geond-hwearf, 

' bffidde b3're geonge ; oft hio bedh-wriSan 

' secge sealde^ ser hi6 t6 setle geong. 

' HwiUmi for dugu6e ddhtor HroSg^res 

' eoiium on ende eaki-wffige bar, 

' ])d ic Fredware flet-sittende 

' nemnan hyrde, J^rer hi6 niigled sine 

' hiileSum sealde si6 gehiUen teas, 

' geong gold-hroden, gladum suna Fr6dan ; 

'hafa(5 ]ms geworden wine Sc3ddinga 

'rices h3Tde and ])at raed talaS, 

' pat he mid ])y wife wiil-faah'Sa dcel, 

' siicca gesette. Oft no seldan hwoer 

' after Ie6d-hryre lytle hwile 

' bon-gdr btigeS, pedh se6 br3''-d duge ! 



64 BEOWULF. [2033-2063. 



XXX. Beowulf's Story of the Slayings. 

"Mag pas ponne ofp^^ncan }7e6den HeaSobeardna 
" and ]7egna gehwam f^ra le6da, 

2035 " ]7onne he mid femnan on flett gseS, 
' ' dryht-bearn Dena dugiiSa biwenede : 
" on him gladiaS gomeh-a l^fe 
"heard and hring-msel, HeaSobeardna gestre6n, 
" |;enden hie ]74m waepnum wealdan radston, 

2040 "65 ydt hie foiiasddan t6 J^am hnd-plegan 
" swaese gesiSas ond hyra sylfra feorh. 
" ponne cwi5 at be6re, se ])e beah gesyhS, 
" eald asc-wiga, se pe eall geman 
" gar-cweahn gamena (him biS grim sefa), 

2045 " onginneS ge6mor-m6d geongjie cempan 
" purh hreSra geh3'gd higes cunnian, 
" wig-bealu weccean and pat word kcwj'd: 
" ' Meaht pu, mln wine, m^ce gecndwan, 
"'pone pin fader t6 gefeohte bar 

2050 "'under here-grhnan hindeman siSe, 
" ' dj're u'en, peer h3^ne Dene slogon, 

we61don wiil-stowe (s3'S5an wiSer-gyld lag 
after hiileSa hr3Te) hwate Scyldungas? 
" ' Nu her ptlra banena b3Te niU-hw3'lces, 

2055 " ' friitwum hr^mig on flet gfe5, 

" ' morSres g34pe5 and pone m^56um b3'reS, 
"'pone pe pu mid rihte rsedan sceoldest ! "* 
"ManaS swa and myndgaS maila gehwylce 
" s^rum wordum, 65 pat soel C3'me5, 

2060 "pat se faemnan pegn fore fader daediim 
" after billes bite bl6d-fag swefe'5, 
' ' ealdres sc34dig ; him se 66er ponan 
" losaS Zifigende, con him land geare. 






20G4-2098.] BEOWULF. 65 

' ponne 1)165 brocene on 1)11 licalfe 

' fi5-sweord corhi ; sj/hhan Ingolcle 

' weallaS wiil-ni^as and liiin wii'-lufan 

' iifter cear-wiilnnnn c61i"an weorSacS. 

' py ic IlcaSobcardna hyldo ne telge, 

' dniit-sibbe da^l Denum unfjecne, 

' lrc6iid-scipe fiistne. Ic sceal for6 sprecan 

' gen ynibe Grendel, jntt ]m gearc cunne, 

' sinces brytta, t6 liwan sySSan wcarS 

' hond-raes hiileSa. S^'SSan heofones gim 

' glM ofer grundas, giist yrre cwom, 

' eatol aefen-grom, tiser ne6san, 

' peer we gesunde sal weardodou ; 

' ])Sdr was Hondsci6 liild onsaege, 

' feorh-bealu faegum, he fyrmest lag, 

' g3'rded cempa ; him Grendel wearS, 

' maerum maga-])egne id mu6-bonan, 

' le6fes mannes lie eall forswealg. 

' N6 py aer tt ]^Ci gen' idel-hende 

' bona bl6dig-t66 bealewa gemyndig, 

' of I'am gold-sele gongan wolde, 

' ac he miignes r6f min costode, 

' gr^pode gearo-folm. Glof hangode 

' sid and s^dJic searo-bendnm fast, 

' si6 was or)^oncum eall gegyrwed 

' de6fles criiftnm and dracan fellum : 

' he mec faer on innan nnsjnnigne, 

' di6r daed-fruma, gedon wolde, 

' manigra snmne : h3't ne mihte swd, 

' sy^San ic on 3'rre upp-riht iist6d. 

' T6 lang ys id reccenne, ht ic pam Ie6d-scea5an 

' yfla gehw^-lces ond-ledn forge aid ; 

' l^aer ic, pe6den min, pine le6de 

' weorSode weorcum. He on weg losade, 

' lytle hwile lif-wynna bredc ; 



QQ BEOWULF. [2099-2133. 

" hwaSre him si6 swiSre swa'Se weardade 
2100 "hand on Iliorte and he hean ponan, 

" m6des ge6mor mere-grund gefe61l. 

"Me ]~'One wal-rses wine Scildunga 

" f iittan golde fela leanode, 

" manegum mdSmum, S3'55an mergen com 
2105 " and we t6 s^'mble geseten hiifdon. 

" poer was gidd and gie6 ; gornela Scilding 

"fela fricgende feorran rehte ; 

" liwikim hilde-de6r hearpan W3'nne, 

' ' gomen-wndu gr^tte ; hwikim gyd dwrac 
2110 "s65 and saiiic ; hwikim sylltc spell 

"rehte after rilite rt!lm-heort cj'ning. 

" Hwilum eft ongan eldo gebunden, 

' ' gomel gA5-wiga giogu'Se cwiSan 

" hilde-strengo ; hreSer inne we611, 
2115 " ponne he wintrum frod w^orn gemunde. 

" Swa we ])ver inne andlangne dag 

" ni6de niiman, 66 ])at niht becwom 

"6Ser t6 yldnm. p^ was eft hra'Se 

" gearo gjTn-wrace Grendeles mddor, 
2120 " siSode sorh-full ; sunu ded5 fornam, 

" wig-hete Wedra. Wif unhyre 

" hyre beam gewrac, beorn Acwealde 

' ' ellenlice ; j^oer was Asc-here, 

" fr6dan fyrn-witan, feorh Mgenge ; 
2125 '•' noSer h}^ hine ne mdston, sy'6San mergen cwom, 

" dea5-w(3rigne Denia le6de 

" bronde forbitrnan, ne on boel hladan 

" le6fue mannan : hi6 ])at lie atbiir 

" fe6ndes fix^mum under firgen-stredm. 
2130 "pat was HroSgitre hreowa tornost 

" l^dra ])e le6d-framan lange begeiUe ; 

" ]?^ se ]7e6den mec ]>ine lyfe 

" healsode hre6h-m6d, ]?at ic on holma ge]?ring 



2i;U-21G0.] 



BEOWULF. 



67 



" eorl-scipe efiule, 
2135 'MnrerSo fremede : 
" Ic J' A yds wiilines, 
" grimnc grvrelicne 
" prer iinc liwile wiis 
" holm heollrc wc611 
2140 "ill j'am gnind-sQle 
" edcnum ecgum, 
"feorh 65fcrcde; 
' ' ac me eorla 1i1g6 
" maSma meiiigeo, 



caldre gcncSde, 
he me mede geh^t. 
]:q is wide cA6, 
griind-hyrde fond, 
hand gejn{"eiie ; 
and ic heal'de becearf 
Grendeles m6dor 
iins6fte ponan 
nas ic faege ])Ci gvt, 
eft gesealde 
mao'a Healfdenes. 



XXXI. 

He gives Presents to Hygelac. Hygelac 

Rewards Him. Hygelac's Death. 

Beowulf Reigxs. 



2145 " SwA se pe6d-kvning J-eawum lyfde ; 
" nealles ic ptim leannm foiioren hiifde, 
" m agues mede, ac he me 7>i«c^»ias geaf, 
" sunu Healfdenes, on shine sylfes dom ; 
"])ii ic ]>e, beorn-cj'ning, bringan wvlle, 
2150 " estmu gej'wan. Gen is call at ]'e 
ic lyt hafo 
nefne Hygelac pec ! " 
eafor, heafod-segn, 
hdre b^'rnan, 
avd after wrac : 



' ' lissa gelong : 
" hedfod-milga, 
H^t ];a in beran 
heaSo-stedpne helm, 
2155 gdS-sweord geatolic. 



"Me pis hilde-sceorp Hru(Sgiir sealde, 
" snotra fengel, snme worde h^t, 
"pat ic his serest pe eft gesilgde, 
' ' cwaS pat hy t hafde Hiorogdr C3'ning, 
2160 " le6d Scyldunga lange hwile ; 



68 BEOWULF. [2161-2195. 

" 116 ]>y aer suna sinum s^'llaii wolde, 

" liwatum Heorowearde, ] eali he him hold wsere, 

" bre63t-gGwi]edu. Briic ealles well!" 

H^'i'de ic Jilt ]>i\m friitwum fe6wer mearas 
2165 luiigre gelice l^st weardode, 

iippel-fealuwe ; he hhn est getedh 

meara and mfiSma. Swa sceal mseg d6n, 

nealles inwit-iiet; dSrum bregdan, 

djTiium criifte 49.a5 renian 
2170 hoiid-gesteallan. Hygel^ce was, 

niSa heardnm, iiefa sw^'Se hold 

and gehwaSer 65rum hr65ra gerayndig. 

Hyrde ic )>at he ]:one heals-beah Hygde gesealde, 

wriitlicne wundur-m^55um, jjone |)e him Wealh])e6 geaf, 
2175 peodnes dohtor, pri6 wicg somod 

swancor and sadol-beorht ; h3're S3'^San was 

after beah-pege bre6st geweorcSod. 

Swfi bealdode beam Ecgpe6wes, 

guma gilSura cfi5, gddum diediim, 
2180 dredh after dome, nealles druncne sl6g 

heorS-genedtas ; nas him hre6h sefa, 

ac he man-c3'nnes niieste criifte 

gin-fiistan gife, pe him god sealde, 

heold hilde-deor. Hedn was lange, 
2185 swix h3-ne Gedta beam gddne ne tealdon, 

ne li3'ne on medo-bence micles wyrSne 

drihten wereda ged6n wolde ; 

swySe oft sdgdon, pilt he sleac wsere, 

aSeling imfrom : edwenden cwom 
2190 tu'-eadigum menn torna gehwylces. 

H6t pit eorla lile6 in gefetian, 

hea'6o-r6f cj'ning, Hr^Sles htfe, 

golde gegyrede ; nas mid Gedtiim pd 

sinc-mA65um selra on sweordes hM ; 
2195 piit he on Bi6wiilfes beami fllegde, 



2190-2220.] BEOWULF. 00 

and him gescalclc seofaii j;Asendo, 

bold and l)iv<4'o-st(M. Ilini wiis bani samod 

on pani leod-scipe lond goc3"nde, 

card ccSel-riht, 6(^rnm swicior 
2200 side rice, jam prer selra wiis. 

Eft J'iit geiode nfaran dogrum 

liildc-hUimniinn, sy55aii IKgelAc lag 

and Heardrede liilde-meceafe 

nnder bord-hre6?ian 16 b^nan wurdon, 
2205 j'ti hyne ges61itan on sige-peode 

liearde hildc-frecan, HcaSo-Scilfingas, 

niSa genaegdan nefan Hererices. 

Sj'SSan Be6wulfe brMe rice 

on hand gehwearf: he gehe61d tela 
2210 fiftig wintrn (wiis |;a IVod cyning, 

eald e6el-weard), 66 piit An ongan 

deorcnm nihtum draca ricsian, 

se ])e on lieAye hceSe hord beweotode, 

stan-beorh steapne : stig under liig, 
2215 eldum uncfi6. pcev on innan giong 

ni6a niU-hwylces neodu gefcng 

liDst^nnm horde bond . d . . ge]? . . hwylc 

since fahne, he ]>iit sy6?ian 

. . . p . . . IcS . |) . . 1 . g 
2220 slrepende be fyre, fs'rena h^a-de 

]7e6fes criifte, piit sie . . . . '6io6 

. idh . folc-beorn, ])at he gebolgen was. 



XXXII. The Fire-Drake. The Hoard. 

Nealles mid geweoldum wyrm-horda . . . crilft 
sohte sylfes willum, se pe him sdve gesce6d, 
2225 ac for preA-n^dlan ])G6in nAt-hwylces 
hiileSa bearna hete-swengeas fletih, 



70 Be6wULF. [2227-2261. 

for ofer-\>e:xrfe and J^ser iime fealh 

secg S3'n-bysig. Sona in ];a tide 

pat ]^am gyste . . . . br . g . st6d, 

2230 liwaSre earm-sceapen 

. . S . . . sceapen o . . . . i r . . e se faes begeat, 
sinc-fiit geseah : peer was swylcra fela 
in pam eor5-scrafe 8er-gestre6na, 
sw4 hy on ge^r-dagum gnmena n^t-hwylc 

2235 eormen-U\fe aSelan c^'nnes 
panc-ln'cgende paer gehydde, 
de6re magmas. Ealle hie dedS fornam 
serran niaeluni, and se An ptt gen 
le6da dugnSe, se paer leugest liwearf, 

2240 weard wine-ge6mor wiscte pas ^ddan, 
pat he l3'tel fiic long-gestre6na 
brftcan ni6ste. Beorh eal gearo 
wunode on wonge water-ySum nedh, 
niwe be nasse nearo-craftum fiist : 

2245 pffir on innan bar eorl-gestre6na 
hringa hyrde hard-fyrdne dael 
fattan goldes, fed worda cwaS : 
•'Heald pu nu hruse, nu haleS ne m6ston, 
" eorla aehte. Hwat ! hit nev on pe 

2250 " g6de bege^ton ; gt\5-dedS fornam, 
" feorh-bealo frecne f3Ta gehw3'lcne, 
" le6da mmra, para pe pis Z?/ ofgeaf, 
" gesawon sele-dredra. Nah hvva svveord wege 
" 0(55e feti'ge fated waege, 

2255 " drync-fat de6re : dugifS ellor sc6c. 
" Sceal se hearda hehn hyrsted golde 
" fatum befeallen : feormiend swefaS, 
" p^ pe beado-griraan by wan sceoldon, 
" ge swylce se6 here-pM, si6 at hilde gebM 

2260 " ofer borda gebrac bite irena, 

" brosna'S after beorne. Ne mag byrnan hring 



22(32-2206.] BEOWULF. 

''iiftcr wig-friimau Avtde feran 

'' hiileSum be healfc ; nils hcarpan wj-n, 

" gomeii glc6-beiimos, ne g6d liafoc 
2265 " goond siil swingeS, ne se swifta mcarh 

" burh-stede bedteS. Bcalo-cwealm hafaS 

" fela feorh-cynna feorr onsended ! " 

SwA gi6mor-m6d giohSo majiide, 

dn after eaUnin nnl)ri(Se bweop, 
2270 diiges and iiihtes, 65 ]nit detlSes wyhn 

hrdii iit beortaii. Hord-w^nne fond 

eald uht-sceavia opene standan, 

se ]'e byrnende biorgas .S(^ce8 

nacod niS-draca, nihtes fle6geS 
2275 f^Te befangen ; hyne fold-bftend 

icicle gesdivon. He geiviminn sceall 

hlAw under hrusan, ])oer he hjieSen gold 

waraS wintrura fr6d ; ne b3'5 him wihte ];e sel. 

SwA se J?e6d-scea6a ]?re6 hiind wintra 
2280 he61d on hrusan hord-iirna sum 

edcen-criiftig, 68 ]:at h3'ne An dbealh 

mon on m6de : raan-dryhtne bar 

fated w.Tge, frioSo-waere bM 

hlaford sinne. pa was hord rdsod, 
2285 onboren bcjiga hord, bene getiSad 

fca-seeaftum men. Fred sceawode 

fira f^'rn-geweorc forman siSe. 

pd se wyrm onw6c, wr6ht wtis geniwad ; 

stone I'll after sttine, stearc-heort onfand 
2290 fe6ndes f6t-ldst ; he t6 forS gest6p, 

dyrnan crafte, dracan hedfde nedh. 

SwA miig unfnege edSe gedigan 

wedn and wriic-siS, se ]:e waldendes 

hyldo gehealdeS. Hord-weard s6hte 
2295 georne after grunde, wolde guman findan, 

pone ]?e him on sweofote sdre gete6de : 



72 BEOWULF. [2297-2320. 

hiU find hre6h-m6d hlsew oft ymbe hwearf, 

ealne fttan-weardne ; ne J?fer asnig mon 

was on ]:a?re westenne. HwtiSre liilde gefeli, 
2300 beacZo-weorces : hwilnm on beorh iithwearf, 

sine-fat s6hte ; he ]:at s6na onfand, 

pat hafde gumena sum goldes gefandod 

hedli-gestre6na. Hord-weard onbad 

earfo51iee, 6S pat re fen cwom ; 
2305 was pd gebolgen beorges h3'rde, 

wolde se IMa lige forgyldan 

drinc-fat dyre. p4 was diig sceacen 

W3'rme on willan, n6 on wealle leng 

btdan wolde, ac mid baele for, 
2310 f^'re gef3"sed. Was se fruma egeslic 

le6dum on lande, swa hyt lungre wearS 

on hyra sine-gifan s^re geendod. 



XXXIII. 

Beowulf Resolves to Kill the Fiee-Deake. 

pA se gast ongan gledmn spiwan, 

beoiiit hofa barnan ; bryne-le6ma st6d 
2315 eldum on andan ; n6 paer aht cwices ^ 

laS lyft-floga laefan wolde. 

Was pas Wynnes wig wide ges^^ne, 

nearo-fiiges niS nean and feorran, 

hd se gtiS-sceaSa Geata leode 
2320 hatode and hynde : bord eft gescedt, 

dryht-sele d3Tnne ser dages liwile. 

Hafde land-wara llge befangen, 

hsale and bronde ; beorges getrftwode, 

wiges and wealles : him se6 w^n geledh. 
2325 pa was Bi6wulfe br6ga gecySed 

snt^de t6 s6Se, pat his S3dfes him 



2327-2301.] BEOWULF. 73 

bolda selest bryne-wyhnum mcalt, 

gif-st61 Gcdta. piit pam g6(lan was 

hre6w on hrecSre, In'ge-sorga nia^st : 
2330 w6iide se wisa, j^iit he wealdcnde, 

ofer ealde ribt, ^cean diybtne 

bitre gebulge : brc6st inn an \ve611 

feostrum geponcuni, swA him gepywe ne wiis. 

Hiifdc lig-draca le6da fasten, 
2335 ea-lond Cltan, eorS-weard pone 

glednm forgrunden. Him pits gCicS-cj'ning, 

Wedera ]>i6den, wriice leornode. 

Heht him ])a gewyrcean wigendra hle6 

eall-ircnne, eorhi dryliten 
2340 wig-bord wriitlic ; wisse he gearwe, 

fiit him holt-wudu hQljyan ne meahte, 

lind wis lige. Sccoldc loen-daga 

aScling 3er-g6d ende gebidan 

worulde lifes and se wyrm somod, 
2345 pedh ]?e hord-welau heolde lange. 

Oferhogode ])k hringa fengel, 

]iat he ))one wid-flogan weorode gesdhte, 

sidan herge ; n6 he him pa silcce ondrdd, 

ne him ])as wyrmes wig for wiht djcle, 
2350 eafo6 and ellen ; forpon he aer fela 

nearo n^Sende niSa gedigde, 

hilde-hlemma, sy56an he Hr65gares, 

sigor-eddig secg, sele foelsode 

and at gftSe forgrap Grendeles mnegum, 
2355 l{l6an cynnes. No piit liisest wiis 

hond-gemota, ])vev mon IIygeU\c sl6h, 

syScSan Gedta cyning gdSe rsesum, 

f red- wine folces Freslondnm on, 

HreSles eafora hioro-dryncum sw^ealt, 
2360 bille gebedten ; j^onan Bi6wulf com 

s^'lfes criifte, sund-nytte dredli ; 



74 BEOWULE. [2362-2391. 

t hafde liim on earme . . . XXX 

hilde-geatwa, ])4 he t6 holme st^g. 

Nealles Hetware hremge |:orftoii 
2365 feSe-wiges, ];e him foraii ongedii 

linde bagron : lyt eft becwom 

fram j^am hild-frecan htimes niosan. 

Oferswam ])ii si61e5a bigong suna Ecg]7e6wes, 

earm An-haga eft 16 le6dum, 
2370 pier him Hygd gebead hord and rice, 

beagas and brego-stol : bearne ne trAwode, 

fat he wis al-fjdcum eSel-stoIas 

healdan claSe, ]?d was HygeUlc dead. 

N6 ]>j rer fea-sceafte fiudan mealiton 
2375 at ]?am aSelinge senige ]inga, 

fat he Heardrc^de hlitford waere, 

o6Se ])one cyne-dOm ci6san' wolde ; 

hwaSre he him on folce fre6nd-iririnii he61d, 

^stum mid iire, 65 fat he yldra wearS, 
2380 Weder-Gedtum weold. H3'ne wriic-macgas 

ofer sae sohtan, suna Oliteres : 

hafdon h}' forhealden hehn Sc3'lfinga, 

fone selestan so3-C3uiinga, 

fara ])e in vSwio-rice sine br3^tnade, 
2385 moeme fe6den. Him fat to raearce wear6 ; 

he faer on feorme feorh-wunde hledt 

sweordes swengum, sunu H3'gelaces ; 

and him eft gewat Ongen]n6wes beam 

hdmes ni6san, sy66an Heardred lag ; 
2390 let ]?one brego-st61 Bi6wulf healdan, 

Geatum wealdan : fat was god cyning. 



2392-2421.] BEOWULF. 75 

XXXIV. 

Retrospect of Beowulf. — Strife between 

SWEONAS AND GeATAS. 

Se yds le6d-hryres ledn gemunde 

uferaii d6griim, EAdgilse wear5 

fed-sceaftum fe6nd. Folce gestepte 
2395 ofer soe side sunn Ohteres 

wigiim and wiTepninn : lie gewriic S3'55aii 

cealdum cear-si6um, cluing ealdre binedt. 

Swd he niSa gehwane genesen hiifde, 

sliSra geshdita, sunn Ecg|n6wes, 
2400 ellen-weorca, 65 pone dnne diig, 

pe he wis pam W3'rme gewegan sceolde. 

Gew^t ]7d twelfa sura torne gebolgen 

diyhten Geata dracan sceAwian ; 

hafde p^ gefrunen, hwanan si6 foehS drds, 
2405 bealo-ni5 biorna ; him to bearme cwom 

md55nm-fat m?ere ]nn-h J^iis nieldan bond. 

Se was on J^am [redte ]n'eotteo6a secg, 

se l-as orleges 6r onstealde, 

haft hyge-giomor, sceolde hedn ]?onon 
2410 wong wisian : he ofer w^Uan gi6ng 

id pits pe he eor6-sele anne wisse, 

hloew under hrusan holm-w^lme n^h, 

y5-gewinne, se was innan full 

wriitta and wira : weard unhi6re, 
2415 gearo gftS-freca, gold-mdSraas hc61d, 

eald under eorSan ; nils piit y^e cedp, 

t6 gegangenne gumena <nenigum. 

Gesiit I'd on nasse niS-heard C3'ning, 

penden ha^lo dbedd heor(5-genedtum 
2420 gold-wine Gcdta : him wits ge6mor sefa, 

wafre and wal-f6s, Wyrd ungemete nedh, 



76 BEOWULF. [2422-2456. 

se pone goraelan gretaii sceolde, 

s^cean s^wle liord, snndiir gedaelan 

lif wis lice : 116 J)on lange was 
2425 feorh aSelinges flsesce bewuiiden. 

Bi6wnlf ma'5elade, beam Ecg]ie6wes : 

" Fela ic on giogoSe gfiS-raesa genas, 

" oiieg-hwila : ic |:»at call gemon. 

'^ Ic was S3'fan-wintre, ])ti mec sinca baldor, 
2430 ''frea-wine folca at minum fader genam, 

" he61d mec and hiifde HreSel C3'ning, 

" gcaf me sine and S3'mbel, sibbe gemunde ; 

" nas ic him t6 life laSra dwihte 

" beorn in burgum, ]:>onne his bearna hwylc, 
2435 " Herebeald and HcTeScyn, oSt5e Hygeldc min. 

' ' Was para yldestan unged^felice 

" maeges dsedum morSor-bed stred, 

" sySSan hyne HseScyn of horn-bogan, 

"his fred-wine Mne geswencte, 
2440 " miste mercelses and his moeg ofscet, 

" br65or 65erne, blodigan g^re : 

" pat was feoh-leds gefeoht, fjTenum gesj^ngad, 

" hreSre h3'ge-meSe ; sceolde hwiiSre swd peah 

" aSeling unwrecen ealdres linuan. 
2445 " Swa biS ge6morlic gomelum ceorle 

" t6 gebidanne, piit his b3Te ride 

" giong on galgan, ponne he g3'd wrece, 

" s^rigne sang, ponne his sunu hanga'5 

" hrefne t6 hr66re and he him helpan ne mfig, 
2450 " eald and in-fr6d, agnige gefremman. 

'' S3'mble bi6 gem3'ndgad morna gehwylce 

' ' eaforan ellor-siS ; 65res ne gymeS 

"to gebidanne burgmn on innan 

" 3'rfe-weardes, ponne se an hafaS 
2455 " purh deaSes nyd dasda gefondad. 

" Gesyh^ sorh-cearig on his suna biire 



2457-2484.] BEOWULF. 77 

" wiii-sele westiie, wiml-gereste, 
" rcotc berofene ; ridend swefaS, 
" hiilc5 ill hoSmaii ; nis ]>oer hearpan sw^g, 
2460 " gomen in geardum, sw^lce ])oer iu woeron. 



XXXV. 

Memokies of Past Time. — The Feud with 
THE Fiee-Deake. 

" Gewitei^ ]?onne on sealman, sorh-le66 gale"6 
" An lifter linum : pfilite liim eall t6 rClm, 
''wongas and wic-stede. Swii AYedra helm 
'• iifter Ilerebealde heortan sorge 

2465 " weallende wiig, wilite ne meahte 

' ' on ]/am feorh-bonan faeliSe gebetan : 

" n6 ])f ogr ho ];one heaSo-rinc hatian ne meahte 

" lASum dsedum, peah him Icuf ne wiis. 

"He I'ti mid p.iere sorge, ]>e him si6 sAr belamp, 

2470 '-gum-dream ofgeaf, godes le6ht geceds ; 
" eaferum Icefde, swil de6 eadig mon, 
" lond and le6d-b3Tig, ])ti he of life gewAt. 
" pCi was synn and sacu Sweona and Geata. 
" ofcr wid wiiter wroht gemsene, 

2475 '' here-niS hearda, sy55an IlreSel swealt, 
" o55e him Ongen|?e6wes eaferan waeran 
" frome f3'rd-hwatc, freode ne woldon 
" ofer heafo healdan, ac ymb Hreosna-beorh 
" eatolne inwit-scear oft gefremedon. 

2480 " pat maeg-wine mine gewraecan, 

" fasliSe and fjrene, swA liyt gefraege was, 
^' J^edh pe 65er hit ealdre gebohte, 
" heardan ceape : HogScynne wearS, 
" Gedta diyhtne, g1i8 onsaege. 



78 BEOWULF. [2485-2519. 

2485 " pd ic on'morgne gefriigu maeg 65erne 
" billes ecgum on bonan stselari, 
" paer Ongen])e6w Eofores iii6sade : 
" gAS-helm tOgldd, gomela Scylling 
" hreas /ieo?-o-l)ldc ; bond gemunde 

2490 " faebSo gen6ge, feorh-sweng ne oftedh. 
'' Ic bim ];A mdSmas, ]:e be me sealde, 
" geald tit giiSe, swd me gifeSe was, 
' ' le6btan sweorde ; be me lond forgeaf, 
"card 65el-w3m. Nils bun senig pearf, 

2495 " ])at be id GifSom o56e to Grir-Denum 
" 0(55e in Swi6-rice s^cean })urfe 
' ' wyrsan wig-frecan, weorSe gecypau ; 
" sjiiile ic bim on f^San beforan wolde, 
" dna on orde, and swa to aldre sceall 

2500 " siicce fremman, ]>enden pis sweord pola'S, 
" piit mec ffir and si6 oft gelaeste, 
" sy56an ic for diigeSum Dagbrefiie wearS 
" t6 hand-bonan, Hiiga cempan : 
" nalles be ]'t friltwe Fres-cyninge, 

2505 " bre6st-weorSunge bringan mdste, 

" ac in campe gecrong cumbles byrde, 
" aSeUng on ebie. Ne was ecg bona, 
" ac bim bilde-grdp beortan wybnas, 
" ban-bfis gebriic. Nu sceall billes ecg, 

2510 "bond and beard sweord 3'mb bord wigan." 
Be<')wulf maSelode, be6t-wordum sprac 
niebstan siSe : "Ic gen(^Sde fela 
" gilSa on geogoSe ; gyt ic wylle, 
" frod folces weard, fsebSe seean, 

2515 " raserSum fremman, gif mec se mdn-scea^a 
" of eorS-sele fit geseceS ! " 
Gegrette ]>d gumena gebwylcne, 
bwate belm-berend bindeman siSe, 
swoese gesiSas : " Nolde ic sweord beran, 



2520-2554.] BEOWULF. 79 

2520 " waepen tO wjTme, gif ic wiste liA 
" wis ])am aglaecean elles mealite 
"gylpe wic^gripan, sw^ ic gi6 wi5 Grendle d3'de; 
" ac ic poer heaSu-fyres luUes wene, 
" r<^6es and-hdttres: for]?on ic me on hafu 

2525 " bord and byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard 
" oferfle6n f6tes trem, fedncl unJiyre, 
' ' ac unc sceal weorSan at wealle , sw^ unc W^Td gete65 , 
" metod manna geliwiis. Ic com on m6de from, 
" ])at ic wis J>one gftS-flogan gylp ofersitte. 

2530 " Gebido ge on beorge byrniim werede, 
" secgas on searwum, hwiiSer s^l maege 
" after wal-raese ^ wunde ged^gan 
" nncer twega. Nis ptit e6wer siS, 
" ne gemet mannes, nefne min ^nes, 

2535 " pat he wiS aglaecean eofoSo dsele, 
" eorl-scype efne. Ic mid elne sceall 
"gold gegangan oSSe guS nimeS, 
" feorh-bealu frdcne, fredn e6werne ! " 
Ards pt\ bi ronde r6f oretta, 

2540 heard under helm, liioro-sercean bar 
under stdn-cleofu, strengo getrfiwode 
anes mannes : ne biS swylc earges siS. 
Geseah pa be wealle, se pe worna fela, 
gum-cystum g6d, gftSa gedigde, 

2545 hilde-hlemma, ponne hnitan feSan, 

(st6d on stdn-bogan) stream tit ponan 
brecan of beorge ; was paere burnan walm 
heaSo-f\Tum hdt : ne meahte horde iiedh 
unbyrnende aenige liwile 

2550 de6p gedygan for dracan l^ge. 

L6t pd of bre6stum, pfi he gebolgen was, 
Weder-Gedta le6d word tt faran, 
stearc-heort styrmde ; stefn in becom 
heat5o-torht hlynnan under hdrne stdn. 



80 BEOWULF. [2555-2589. 

2555 Hete was onhr^red, hord-weard oncm6w 

mannes reorde ; nas ])£er mara fyrst, 

fre6de t6 frielan. From serest cwom 

oruS aglaecean Ht of stdne, 

h^t hilde-sw^t ; hruse d3mede. 
2560 Biorn under beorge bord-rand onswdf 

wi^ fam gr3Te-gieste, Geata dr3^hten : 

])§i was hring-bogan heorte gefysed 

sacce t6 seceanne. Sweord ser gebrad 

g6d gftS-C3'ning gomele Mfe, 
2565 ecgum ungledw, ffighwaSrum was 

bealo-h3'cgendra brdga fram 65rum. 

StiS-m6d gestdd wiS steapne rond 

winia bealdor, ])k se wyrm gebedh 

snClde t6somne : he on searwum bM. 
2570 GewtU ])d b3Tnende gebogen scriSan t6, 

gesclfe sc3'ndan. Scyld wel gebearg 

life and lice lassan hwlle 

msernm ]?e6dne, ponne his myne s6hte, 

])ser he ])y fyvste forman d6gore 
2575 wealdan m6ste, sw^ him W3Td ne gescr^f 

hre6 at hilde. Hond up dbrad 

Ge4ta dryhten, gr3Te-fdhne sl6h 

incge Mfe, J^at si6 ecg gew^c 

hrtin on b^ne, bdt iinswlSor, 
2580 ]7onne his ])i6d-c3^ning J^earfe hafde, 

b3'sigum gebasded. pk was beorges weard 

after heaSii-swenge on hre6iim m6de, 

wearp wal-fyre, wide sprungon 

hilde-le6man : hreS-sigora ne gealp 
2585 gold-wine Gedta, gtiS-bill gesw^c 

nacod at niSe, sw^ hyt n6 sceolde, 

iren aer-gOd. Ne was ]?at ^Se siS, 

fat se maera maga Ecg]?e6wes 

gruiid-wong )?one ofgyfan wolde; 



2590-2620.] BEOWULF. 81 

2590 sceolde icyrmes willan wic eardian 

elles hwergen, swd sceal segliw3'lc mon 

dlaetan Inen-dagas. Nils ]>ti long t6 ];on, 

pat I'd agliecean hy eft gemetton. 

Hyrte hyiie hord-weard, hreSer aeSme we611, 
2595 niwaii stefne nearo prowode 

fyre befongen se j^e cer folce we61d. 

Nealles him on heape hand-gesteallan, 

aSclinga beam ymbe gest6don 

hilde-cystum, ac hy on holt bugon, 
2600 ealdrc burgan. Hiora in ^mnm we611 

sefa wi6 sorgiim : sibb sefre ne miig 

wiht onwendan, pam j^e wel j^ence^. 



XXXVI. WiGLAF Helps Beowulf in the Feud. 

WIglaf was hilten Weoxst^nes sunu, 

le6flic lind-wiga, le6d Scjifinga, 
2605 mseg Alfheres : geseah his mon-dryhten 

under here-grlman hdt jn'owian. 

Gemunde ])k ]5i\ Are, pe he him aer forgeaf 

wic-stede weligne Wagmiindinga, 

folc-rihta gehw3'lc, swA, his fader t\hte ; 
2610 ne mihte ])d forhabban, bond rond gefeng, 

geolwe linde, gomel swyrd getedh, 

pat was mid eldiim Ednmundes Idf, 

suna Ohteres, pam at sacce wearS 

wracu wine-lejisum Weohst^nes bana 
2615 meces ecgum, and his mdgum atbar 

brAn-f Agne helm, hringde b3Tnan, 

eald sweord eotonisc, pat him Onela forgeaf, 

his gadelinges gliS-gewaedu, 

fjTd-searo fClslic : n6 ymbe ])k faeht^e sprac, 
2620 pedh pe he his br6Sor beam dbredwade. 



82 BEOWULF. [2621-2655. 

He friitwe gehe61d fela missera, 
bill and byrnan, 65 pat his b3're mihte 
eorl-seipe efnan, swd his ser-fiider ; 
geaf him ]:d mid Gedtiim g^S-gewseda 

2625 aeghwiis unrim ; ])h, he of ealdre gew^t, 
fr6d on for6-weg. pd, wits forma siS 
geongan cempan, ydt he gu6e raes 
mid his fre6-diyhtne fremman sceolde ; 
ue gemealt him se m6d-sefa, ne his mseges l^f 

2630 gew^c at wige : pat se w3Tm onfand, 
sy56an hie t6gadre gegcin hiifdon. 
Wiglaf maSelode word-rihta fela, 
sagde gesi^um, him was sefa ge6mor : 
" Ic piit mifil geman, paer we medu ]>egun, 

2635 " ponne we geheton iQssmn liMforde 
"in bi6r-sele, pe tis ])ts bedgas geaf, 
" J»at we him ])k gA5-geatwa gyldan woldon, 
" gif him pyslicu pearf gelumpe, 
' ' helmas and heard sweord : pe he tlsic on herge geceds 

2640 "'td ]>yssum si5-fate S3'lfes willum, 

" onmunde lisic maerSa and me pds mdSmas geaf, 
" ]7e he Asic gar-wigend g6de tealde, 
" hwate helm-berend, ]?edh pe hlaford tis 
"pis ellen-weorc ^na ^p6hte 

2645 " t6 gefremmanne, folces h3Tde, 

" forpam he manna mcest moerSa gefremede, 
" dseda doUlcra. Nu is se dtig cmnen, 
' ' pat Are man-dryhten magenes behdfaS 
" gddra gCi6-rinca : wutun gangan t6, 

2650 " helpan hild-fniman, penden h3't sy, 
" gled-egesa grim! God w^t on mec, 
"pat me is micle le6fre, pat minne Itc-haman 
"mid minne gold-g3'fan gled fa5mie. 
" Ne p3'nce5 me gerysne, pat we rondas beren 

2655 "eft t6 earde, nemne we aeror maegen 



2G56-2r,<)0.] BEOWULF. 83 

'^frme gefyllan, feorh ctilgian 

" Wcdra ]n6dno.s. Ic wut geare, 

" ])iit natron cakl-gew3Tlit, piit he Ana scyle 

''Gedta dngu5e gnorn j^rowian, 
2660 " gesigan lit sticce : sceal tlrum j^iit sweord and helm, 

" byrne and byrdu-scrM bfiin gemoene." 

W6d ]>d |)urh pone wal-rec, wig-heafolan bar 

fredn on fiiltum, fed worda cwtiS : 

" Le6fa Biowulf, laist eall tela, 
2665 " swd ])u on geogu'5-feore gefira gecwsede, 

" ptit I'll ne dlaete be ]je lifigendum 

" d6m gedreosan : scealt nu daidum r6f, 

" aSeling {\n-h3'dig, ealle miigene 

"feorh ealgian ; ic pe fuUoestu ! " 
2670 After j^iim wordum wj^rm 3Tre cwom, 

atol inwit-giist 66re slSe, 

fyr-wylmum fdh fi6nda ni6san, 

M6ra manna ; lig-^'Sum forborn 

bord wi6 ronde : byrne ne mealite 
2675 geongum gar-wigan ge6ce gefremman : 

ac se maga geonga under his maeges scyld 

elne geeode, ]rX his Tigen was 

giedum forgrunden. pk gen gti6-cyning 

mcer^a gemunde, magen-strengo, 
2680 sloh hilde-bille, pat liyt on heafolan st6d 

niSe genj'ded : Nilgling forbiirst, 

geswdc iit sacce sweord Bi6wulfes 

gomol and graeg-msel. Him piit gifeSe ne was, 

J»at him irenna ecge mihton 
2685 helpan iit hilde ; wiis si6 bond t6 strong, 

se pe meca gehwane mine gefra?ge 

swenge ofers6hte, ponne he t6 sticce bar 

waepen wundrum heard, niis him wihte |:6 s^l. 

pA, was pe6d-scea5a |-riddan siSe, 
2690 fr^cne fyr-draca fseht5a gemyndig. 



84 BEOWULF. [2691-2721. 

raesde on ]70iie r6fan, pd him rftm ^geald, 
bdt and heaSo-grim, heals eahie 3'mbefiSng 
biteran b^niim ; he gebl6degod wearS 
sdwul-dri6re ; swdt ySum we611. 



XXXVII. Beowulf Wounded to Death. 

2695 pA ic at pearfe gefmgn ])e6d-C3'ninges 
and-longne eorl ellen cySan, 
craft and cenc^u, swd him gecynde was ; 
ne hedde he ])as heafolan, ac si6 hand gebarn 
mddiges mannes, j^aer he his mseges healp, 

2700 pat he pone ni§-gast nioSor hwene sl6h, 
secg on searwum, pat pat sweord gededf 
fah and fated, pat pat fyr ongon 
sweSrian sy56an. pa gen sylf c^-ning 
geweold his gewitte, wiLlI-seaxe gebrad, 

2705 biter and beada-scearp, pat he on b^Tnan wag 
forwntt Wedra hehn wj'rni on middan. 
Fe6nd gefyldan (ferh ellen write), 
and hi hyne pa begen dbroten hiifdon, 
sib-aSelingas : swylc sceolde secg wesan, 

2710 pegn at pearfe. piit pam pe6dne was 
siSast sige-hwile S3'lfes d<Tedum, 
worlde geweorces. pd sio wnnd ongon, 
pe him se eorS-draca aer geworhte, 
swelan and swellan. He piit s6na onfand, 

2715 piit him on bre6stum bealo-ni5 we611, 
kiioY on innan. p^ se iiSeling gi6ng, 
pat he bi wealle, wis-hycgende, 
gesiit on sesse ; seah on enta geweorc, 
hft p^ stdn-bogan stapnlum fiiste 

2720 ^ce eorS-reced innan he61don. 

Hyne p^ mid handa heoro-dre6rigne 



2722-2752.] BEOWULF. 85 

]:o6(len inoprne ] ogn uiigcmcte till, 

wine-dryhten liis wiiterc gclafedc, 

hikle-siidne and his helm onspe6n. 
2725 Bi6vvulf maSelode, he ofer benne sprac, 

wunde wiil-bledte (wisse he gearwe, 

]>at he diig-hwila gedrogen hiifde 

eorcSaii wvnne ; ])k was eall sceacen 

d6gor-ge rimes, ded(5 imgemete nedh) : 
2730 " Nu ic suna mhium S3-llaii wolde 

" giiS-gewsedu, pffir me gifet5e swA 

" aenig yrfe-weard after wurde, 

"lice gelcnge. Ic ])^s le6de heold 

" f if tig wintra: nas se folc-C3'mng 
2735 " ymbe-sittendra aenig j^i^ra, 

" pe mec gft6-winum gretau dorste, 

" egesan ])e6n. Ic on earde bM 

" mael-gesceafta, he61d min tela, 

" ne s6hte searo-niSas, ne rae sw6r fela 
2740 " aSa on unrilit. Ic pas ealles miig, 

" feorh-bennnm se6c, gefejin habban : 

' ' forpam me witan ne pearf waldend fira 

" morSor-bealo mi\ga, ponne min sceaceS 

"lif of lice. Nq ]m lungre 
2745 " geong, hord sceawian under h^rne stdn, 

" Wigiaf le6fa, nu se wyrm lige6, 

" swefe(S skre wund, since bereafod. 

" Bi6 nu on 6foste, pat ic ser-welau, 

" gold-ffiht ongite, gearo scedwige 
2750 " swegle searo-gimmas, pat ic py s^ft maege 

" after mi\85um-welan min dloetan 

'•lif and le6d-scipe, pone ic longe he61d." 



^Q BEOWULF. [2753-2782. 

XXXVIII. 

Tpie Jewel-Hoakd. The Passing of Beowulf. 

pA ic siiMe gefriign smm Wihst^nes 

after word-cwydum wand urn dryhtiie 
2755 hyran hea5o-si6cum, hring-net beraii, 

brogdne beadu-sercean under beorges hr6f. 

Geseali ))ii sige-hr^Sig, pd he bl sesse ge6ng, 

mago-j^egn mddig mtil56um-sigla fela, 

gold glitinian grunde getenge, 
2760 wiindur on wealle and ]7as w3Tmes denn, 

ealdes uht-flogan, orcas stondan, 

fyrn-manna fata feormend-ledse, 

hyrstum behrorene : ])3By was helm monig, 

eald and 6mig, earm-bedga fela, 
2765 searwum gesaeled. Sine eiV6e mag, 

gold on grande, gamena cynnes 

gehwone ofer-higian, hj^de se j^e wylle ! 

Swylce he siomian geseah segn eall-gylden 

hedh ofer horde, hond-wandra msest, 
2770 gelocen leo^o-criiftam : of pam le6ma st6d, 

pat he j'One grund-wong ongitan meahte, 

wriite giond-Avlitan. Nas piis w^'rmes pser 

ons^'n {Bnig, ac hyne ecg fornam. 

p^ ic on hlaewe gefriign hord reafian, 
2775 eald enta geweorc Anne mannan, 

him on bearm liladan bunan and discas 

s^'lfes dome, segn edc genom, 

be^cna beorhtost ; bill aer-gesc6d 

(ecg was iren) eald-hldfordes 
2780 ]jam para mdSma mund-bora was 

longe hwile, lig-egesan wag 

h^tne for horde. hioro-weallende, 



2783-2817.] 



BEOWULF. 



87 



middcl-nilitum, 6iS ];;it he morftrc swealt. 
Ar -vviis on Ofoste cft-.stfics georn, 
2785 IVatwuin gelyr^red : liyne fyrwet briic, 
hwil^er collcMi-fertS cwicne gcmette 
in jiiin wong-stede Wedra ]:e6den, 
ellcn-sioene, ]'£er he hine an* Ibrlc^t. 
He I'd mid |'am mri^nium nuvrne |?i6den, 
2790 dryhten sinne driorigne fand 

ealdres lit cnde : he hhie eft ongon 
watere weorpan, 65 ])at wordes ord 
bre6st-hord Jnirhbrilc. Bedwidf ma^elode^ 
gomel on giohSe (gold scedwode) : 
2795 " Ic piira friitwa frejin ealles j-anc 

wordnm secge, 
]:e ic her on starie, 

minnm leodnm 
swylc gestrynan. 
2800 " Xn ic on mriSma hord mine bebohte 
" fr6de feorh-le^e, fremma5 o-e nu 
" le6da pearfe ; ne mag ic Iier leng wesan. 
" IMta'S heaSo-niiTere hlaew gewyrcean, 
" beorhtne after boele at brimes nosan ; 
2805 " se seel t6 gem^-ndnm minnm le6dnm 
" heah hlifian on Hrones niisse, 
" pat hit sag lifiend s3-(5-5an h^tan 

]iC\ \Q brentingas 
feorran drlfaS." 
bring gyldenne 
jK'gne gesealde, 

gold-fahne helm, 
het hyne brAcan well : 
ftsses c3-nnes, 
2815 '* Wiieirmnndino-a ; ealle Wvrd forswe6f. 



' ' Ic piira friitwa 
" wnldnr-cyninge 
" ecum dr3-htne, 
' ' pas pe ic m6ste 
' ' ?er sw3'lt-dage 



2810 



" Bi6wnlfes biorh, 
*' ofer fl6da genipa 
Dyde him of healse 
pioden prist-hydig, 
geongum g^r-wigan, 
beah and l^yrnan, 
" pu eart ende .laf 
"■ Wiiegmnndinga ; 



mine magas t6 metod-sceafte, 
eorlas on elne : ic him after sceal." 



88 BE(5WULF. [2818-2848. 

piit was ]am gomelan gingeste word 
bre6st-gehygdum, ser he btrl cure, 
2820 litite heaSo-wylmas : him of hreSre gewdt 
sfiwol s^ceau, s66-fastra dom. 



XXXIX. The Coward-Thanes. 

pA was gegongen gnman iinfrddum 
earfoblice, piit he ou eorSan geseah 
]7one le6festan lifes iit ende 

2825 bleate' gebseran. Bona swylce lag, 
egeslic eor^-draca, ealdre bereafod, 
bealwe gebasded : bedh-hordiim leng 
W3'rm woh-bogen wealdan iie m6ste, 
ac him irenna ecga forndmon, 

2880 hearde heaSo-scearpe homera lafe, 
fat se wid-floga wimdnm stille 
hreds on hrusan hord-arne nedh, 
Dalles after lyfte l^cende hwearf 
middel-nihtum, miiSm-a^hta wlonc 

2835 ansyn ywde : ac he eorSan gefe611 
for J'^as hild-fruman hond-geweorce. 
HAru ]:at on lande lyt manna pAh 
magen-agendra mine gefraige, 
]7edh ])e he daeda gehwiis dyrstig wsere, 

2840 ]7at he wi5 Tittor-sceaSan ore'6e gersesde, 
oS6e hring-sele hondum stj'rede, 
gif he wiiccende weard onfunde 
bAan on beorge. Biowulfe wearS 
dryht-miiSma dsel deaSe forgolden ; 

2845 hafde seghwaSer ende gefered 

la?nan lifes. Nas ])^ lang t6 J)on, 
])at ]}§i hild-latan holt ofgefan, 
tydre tre6w-logan tyne atsomne, 



2849-2883.] BEOWULF. 89 

])A no dorstoii aer (lare(^uin lacan 

28r)0 on hyra man-dryhtncs miclan Jearfe ; 
ac liy scamiende se3'klas biuran, 
gAS-gowaedu, ]xv se goiiicla lag: 
wlitan on Wigiaf. lie gewcTgad sat, 
le(Se-cenipa frean eaxlum nedh, 

2855 welite hync watre ; lihn wiht ne spe6\v ; 

ne mealite he on eor?)an, peali he fl(5e wel, 
on ]jam Irinn-gare fcorh gehealdan, 
ne I'tis wealdendes iviUan wiht oncirran ; 
wolde dOm godes da^dum roedan 

2860 gnmena gehwylcinn, swa he nu gen d65, 
pa wiis at jnim geongiim grun andswaru 
e5-begete ] Tun pe rer* his ehie" forleas. 
AYigUif ma^elode, WeohstAnes sunn, 
secg s^rig-ferS seah on unleofe : 

2865 " piit hi miig secgan, se ]'e W3'le s65 sprccan, 
" pat se mon-dryhten, se e6w pd maSmas geaf, 
" e6red-geatwe, pe ge paer on standaS, 
" ponne he on eahi-bence oft gesealde 
" heal-sittendum helm and byrnan, 

2870 " peoden his pegnum, swylce he piySlicost 
" 6hw{Br feor o5(5e ncah findan meahte, 
" pat he gennnga g{lS-gew0eda 
" wraSe forwurpe. pa In-ne wig beget, 
" nealles folc-cyning fyrd-gesteallum 

2875 " gylpan porfte ; hwaSre him god 6Se, 

" sigora waldend, pat he hyne sylfne gewriic 
" Ana mid ecge, pA him was elnes pearf, 
" Ic him lif-wraSe lytle meahte 
" atgifan at gd^e and ongan swd pedh 

2880 " ofer min gemet mneges helpan : 

" symle was py saemra, ponne ic sweorde drep 

" ferhS-geuiSlan, fyr unswiSor 

'' we611 of gewitte. Wergendra id lyt 



90 BEOWULF. [2884-2914. 

"prong yiiibe ]7e6den, ])^ hyne si6 l^rag becwom. 
2885 "No sceal sinc-pego and sw3'rd-gifii 

" eall 65el-w3'n e6wrum C3'nne, 

" lufen Alicgean: lond-rihtes m6t 

" pa^re mneg-burge monna seghwylc ■ 

"Idel hweorfan, sy'SSan aSelingas 
2890 " feorran gcfiicgean fledm e6werne, 

" d6m-lejisan dsed. Dea5 biS sella 

" eoria gehw^'lcum ponne edwit-lif!" 



XL. The Soldier's Dirge and Prophecy. 

Heht I^^ |)at heaSo-weorc * t6 hagan bi6dan 
up ofer eg-clif, pser ])at eorl-weorod 

2895 morgen-longne dag mod-giomor sat, 
bord-habbende, bega on weniim 
ende-d6gores and eft-cymes 
le6fes monnes. Lyt swigode 
niwra spella, se pe nils gerM, 

2900 ac he sdSlice sagde ofer ealle ; 
" Nu is wil-geofa Wedra le6da, 
" dryhten Geata dedS-bedde fast, 
"wnnaS wal-reste wyrmes daedum ; 
"him on efn ligeS ealdor-gewinna, 

2905 " siex-bennnm se6c : sweorde ne meahte 
' ' on ]7am agia3cean senige pinga 
" wunde gewyrcean. Wiglaf sitetS - 
"ofer Bi6wulfe, byre Wihstdnes, 
" eorl ofer oSrnm unlifigendiim, 

2910 " healdeS hige-meSum heiifod-wearde, 
" le6fes and laSes. Nu ys le6dum wdn 
" orleg-hwile, sySSan underne 
"Froncum and Frysum fyll cyninges 
"wide weorSeS. Was si6 wr6ht scepen 



2915-2946.] Be6wULF. 91 

2915 ''heard wi5 Iliigas, sySSan Iligel^c cwom 

" faran flot-hcrge on Fresna land, 

" ])a3r hyne Hetware hilde gehnregdon, 

" elne geeodon mid ofor-miigene, 

" ]rdt se b3-rn-wiga bftgan sceolde, 
2920 " fe61l on fec^an : nalles friitwe geaf 

* ' ealdor dugotSe ; lis was Ci s}- 6San 

" Merewioinga milts ungyfe5e. 

" Ne ic t6 8we6-Jie6de sibbe of5Se tre6we 

" wihte ne wene ; ac wiis wide cfl(5, 
2925 " ]>atte Ongen|n6 ealdre besnySede 

"HffiScyn IlreSling wiS Hrefna-wudu, 

" p4 for on-median merest ges6htoii 

" Ge^ta le6de GAS-scilfingas. 

" S6na him se lr6da fader Ohtheres, 
2930 " eald and eges-fuU ond-slyht dgeaf, 

" dbre6t brim-wisan, br3'd Mie6rde, 

" gomela i6-meowlan golde berofene, 

" Onelan m6dor and Ohtheres, 

' ' and }7^ folgode feorh-genlftlan 
2935 '' 65 pat hi 65eodon earfoSlice 

"in Hrefnes-holt hl^ford-lease. 

'' Besiit ])k sin-herge sweorda Idfe 

" wundam w^rge, wean oft geh^t 

' ' earmre teohiie andlonge niht : 
2940 *• cwa5 he on mergenne meces ecgum 

" getan wolde, sume on galg-tre6wiim 

^^fiiglum t6 gamene. Fr6for eft gelanip 

" sdrig-niddum somod ser-diige, 

' ' sy66an hie HygeUces horn and byman 
2945 "gealdor ongeMon. p4 se g6da com 

" le6da dugo5e on Idst faran. 



92 BEOWULF. [2947-2978. 



XLI. He Tells of the Swedes and the Geatas. 

"Was si6 vsw^t-swa^u Sweona and Gedta, 

" wal-roes wera wide gesyne, 

"hft ])^ folc mid him fehSe tdwehton. 

2950 " Gewat him ])^ se g6da mid his gadelingum, 
" fr6d fela ge6mor fasten secean, 
" eorl Ongen]n6 iifor oncirde ; 
" haf de Higelaces hilde gefrimen, 
" wlonces wig-craft, wiSres ne trAwode, 

2955 " ]?at he s[e-mamumi onsacan mihte, 
" hedSo-liSendum liord forstandan, 
"beam and biyde ; bedh eft ponan 
" eald under eorS-wealL pd was aeht boden 
" Sweona le6dum, segn HigeUlce. 

2960 " Freo6o-wong pone for6 ofereodon, 

" S3'S5an HreSlingas t6 hagan frmigon. 
" pser wear6 Ongen])i6 ecgum sweorda, 
" blonden-fexa on bid wrecen, 
' ' pat se pe6d-C3''ning pafian sceolde 

2965 " Eofores ^nne d6m : 113'ne ymnga 
" Wulf Wonreding wsepne gersehte, 
' ' pat him for swenge sw^t sedrum sprong 
" for5 under fexe. Nils lie forht sw4 p^h, 
" gomela Scilfing, ac forgeald hraSe 

2970 " w3Tsan wrixle wal-lilem pone, 

' ' S3"55an pe6d-C3'ning p3'der oncirde : 
' ' ne meahte se snella sunu Wonr^des 
" ealdum ceorle ond-sl3dit giofan, 
' ' ac he liim on heaf de helm ter gescer, 

2975 "pat he bl6de filh btigan sceolde, 

' ' fe611 on foldan ; nas he f sege p^ git, 

" ac he h3^ne gew3apte, pe^h pe him wund hrinc. 

' ' Ldt se hearda Higelaces pegn 



2979-8012.] BEOWULF. 93 

" brMne m6ce, ])A his br66or lag, 
2980 '' eald sweord eotonisc, entiscne helm, 

' ' brecan of er bord-wcal : ]rl gebeuh cyning, 

" folces lurde, was in feorli dropen. 

" pA wneron mouigc, ])e his maeg wriSon, 

" ricone AnTerdon, j)d him gerymed wearS, 
2985 " ])at hie wal-st6we wealdan mdston. 

" penden redfode rinc 66erne, 

"nam on Ongen]n6 h'en-b3Tnan, 

' ' heard swyrd hilted and his helm somod ; 

" hdres h3Tste Higelace bar. 
2990 "He ]'dm friitwum t6ng and him fagre gehet 

"ledna/o/'c leodum and gelseste sw^i : 

" geald ]'one gfiS-roes Gedta dijhten, 

" HreSles eafora, ])k he t6 hdm becom, 

" Jofore and Wolfe mid ofer-m^i5mum, 
2995 " sealde hiora gehwaSrum hund Jntsenda 

' ' landes and locenra bedga ; ne jjorfte him ])k ledn 

65witan 

' ' mon on middan-gearde , sy 66an hie pa maert5a gesl6gon ; 

"and pd Jofore forgeaf dngan d6htor, 

" hdm-weor5unge, hyldo t6 wedde. 
3000 " pdt 3's si6 fsehSo and se fednd-scipe, 

" wal-nl6 wera, pas ]>e ic w^n hafo, 

"pe tls seceat5 t6 Sweona le6de, 

' ' S3't5^an hie gefricgeat5 fredn tiserne 

" ealdor-leasne, pone pe sev gehe61d 
3005 "wis hettendom hord and rice, 

" after haleSa hryre hwate Scylfingas, 

" folc-rsed fremede o6Se furSur gen 

" eorl-scipe efnde. Nu is 6fost betost, 

" pat we pe6d-C3'ning pser scedwian 
3010 " and pone gebringan, pe (is bedgas geaf, 

" on dd-fare. Ne seel dnes hwat 

" meltan mid pam m6digan, ac paer is md5ma hord, 



94 BEOWULF. [3013-3047. 

"gold mirime grimme gecedpod 

' ' and nu lit siSestan sylfes feore 
3015 " be4gas geboJite; ])k sceal brood fretan, 

"tiled feccean, nalles eoii wegan 

"mdSomn t6 gemyndum, ne magS scyne 

"habban on bealse bring- weorSunge, 

" ac sceall ge6mor-ni6d golde bereafod 
3020 " oft nalles aene el-land tredan, 

" nu se bere-wisa bleabtor ^legde, 

" gamen and gie6-dream. For)7on sceall g^r wesan 

" monig morgen-ceald mundum bewunden, 

" biifen on banda, nalles bearpan sweg 
3025 " wigend weccean, ac se wonna brefn 

" Ms ofer faegum, fela reordian, 

" earne secgan, ht bira at sete spe-6w, 

"Jjenden be wi5 wulf wal reafode." 

Sw^ se secg bwata secgende was 
3030 14Sra spella ; be ne le4g fela 

wyrda ne woi-da. Weorod call ^r^s, 

eodon unbliSe under Earna nas 

wollen-tedre wundur scedwian. 

Fundon ])^ on sande s^wul-le^sne 
3035 blim-bed bealdan, pone J^e bim bringas geaf 

serran mselum : ])k w^s ende-dag 

g6duin gegongen, pat se gAS-cyning, 

Wedra |7e6den, wundor-deaSe swealt. 

JEr bt ges^gan S3'llicran wibt, 
3040 wyrm on wonge wi6er-rabtes paer 

l^Sne licgean : was se leg-draca, 

grimlic gryre-gdst, gledum beswseled ; 

se was fiftiges f6t-gemearces 

lang on legere, lyft-wj-nne be61d 
3045 nihtes bwllum, nySer eft gew^t 

dennes ni6sian ; was p^ dedSe fast, 

bafde eor$-scrafa ende genyttod. 



3048-3075.] BEOWULF. 95 

Ilim big st6dan bunaii and orcas, 

discas hlgon and dyrc swyrd, 
3050 CnmgG Inirh-etone, swA. hie wiS eorcSan faSm 

)){isend wintra ));«r eardodon : 

Jjonne wiis |)at yrfe edcen-criirtig, 

iu-monna gold galdre l)ewiinden, 

]mt pam hring-sele hi in an ne m6ste 
o0o5 gumena asnig, nefne god S3'lfa, 

sigora s66-cyning, sealde j^am pe he wolde 

(he is manna gehyld) herd openian, 

efne sw^ hwylcum manna, swc^ him gemet J)^hte. 



XLIL 

WiGLAF Speaks. The Building of the 
Bale-Fire. 

pA was gesyne, ]>a,t se si5 ne ])kh 

3000 pam pe unrihte inne gehydde 

wrate under weaile. Weard aer ofsl6h 
fedra sumne ; })a si6 fa?h(5 gewear(5 
gem-ecen wrriSlice. Wiindiir hw^r, f^onne 
eorl ellen-r6f ende gef^re 

3065 lif-gesceafta, ]7onne leng ne mag 

mon mid his mdgum medu-seld bftau? 

Sw^ was Bi6wulfe, ]>^ he biorges weard 

s6hte, searo-niSas : seolfa ne cftfie, 

]7urh hwat his worulde gedM weor&an seeolde ; 

3070 swA hit 66 d6mes dag diope benemdon 
))e6dnas maere, p^ ]?at pasr dydon, 
})at se secg waere synnum scildig, 
hergum geheaSerod, hell-bondura fast, 
wommum gewitnad, se j^one wong strdde. 

3075 Nas he gold-hwat : gearwor hafde 



96 BEOWULF. [3076-3110. 

dgendes ^st aer gesceawod. 

WigMf ma5elode, Wihst^nes sunu : 
' Oft sceall eorl monig t\nes willan 
' wrsec Mre6gan, sw^ l^s gewordeu is. 
' Ne mealiton we gelseran le6fne })e6den, 
' rices hyrde raed senigne, 
' ])at he ne grette gold-weard pone, 
' l^te hyne licgean. ]).'3er he longe was, 
' wicum wunian 65 woruld-ende. 
' He61don hedh gesceap : hord 3's gesceawod, 
' grimme gegongen ; was piit gifeSe t6 swi6, 
' |)e ]7one pedden fyder ontyhte. 
' Ic was fser inne and ]>at eall geond-seh, 
' recedes geatwa, ]>^ me gerymed was, 
' nealles swseslice siS Myfed 
' inn under eorS-weall. Ic on 6foste gefeng 
' micle mid mundum magen-b3'rSenne 
' hord-gestreona, hider At atbar 
' C3'ninge minum : cwico was \)^ gena, 
' wis and gewittig ; worn eall gesprac 
' gomol on gehSo and e6wic gr^tan het, 
' bad ]7at ge geworhton after wines daedum 
' in bsel-stede beorh ]7one he^n 
' micelne and mserne, sw^ he manna was 
' wigeud weor5-fullost wide geond eorSan, 
'fenden he burh-welan brilcan mdste. 
'Uton nu 6fstan 65re si^e 
' se6n and secean searo-ge]>rac, 
' wundnr under wealle ! ic e6w wisige, 
' ]7at ge gendge nedn scedwiatS 
' bedgas and brM gold. Sie si6 bser gearo 
' adre geafned, ponne we tt c3nTien, 
' and ponne geferian fredn ^serne, 
' le6fne mannan, paer he longe sceal 
' on )>as waldendes wasre gepolian." 



3111-3137.] BEOWULF. 97 

H6t |)A gebe6dan bvre WihstAnes, 

hiilo hilde-cli6r, liiilecSa moneoum 

bokl-Agcndra, ]>i\t hie ba^l-wudu 

feorran feredon, folc-dgende 
3115 g6dum t6genes : '' Nu sceal gl^^d fretan 

'' (wcaxan woiiiia leg) wigena strengel, 

" }7one ])G oft gebM isern-scftre, 

" fonne straela storm, strengum geboeded, 

" sc6c ofer scild-weall, sceft nyttc he61d, 
3120 " feSer-gearwum fAs fldne full-eode." 

Hftru se snotra sunu Wihstdnes 

dcigde of corSre c^'ninges ])egnas 

syfone tdsomne ]^k sOlestan, 

eode ealita sum under inwit-lir6f; 
3125 liilde-rinc sum on handa bar 

aled-le6man. se ])e on orde ge6ng. 

Nas pit on hlytme, hwA pat hord strude, 

S3"55an or-wearde aenigne dael 

secgas gesegon on sele wunian, 
3130 Isene licgan : lyt cenig mearn, 

pat hi 6fostlice t\t geferedon 

dyre m^Smas ; dracan ec scufun, 

W3'rm ofer weall-clif, leton wseg niman, 

fl6d faSmian fratwa h3'rde. 
3135 paer was wunden gold on waen hladen, 

yegliwas unrim, *a6eling boren, 

h^r hilde-?*mc t6 Hr6nes nasse. 



98 BEOWULF. [3138-3160. 



XLIII. Beowulf's Funeral Pyre. 

Him ])h gegiredan Gedta le6de 
M on eorSan un-w^clicne, 

8140 helmum behongen, hilde-borclum, 

beorhtum byrnum, sw4 he beiia was ; 
Megdoii pa t6-middes masrne J7e6den 
haleS hiofende, hlaford leofne. 
Ongunnon pa on beorge bffil-f^'ra maest 

3145 wigend weccan : wudu-rec ast^h 

sweart ofer swio5ole, sw6gende leg, 
wope bewnnden (wind-blond gelag) 
6S piit he ]?d bt\n-hiis gebrocen hafde, 
h^t on hreSre. Higura unrdte 

3150 m6d-ceare msendon mon-diyhtnes cwealm ; 
swylce gi6mor-g3Tl t lat . *=°" meowle 

wunden heorde . *- . 

serg (?) cearig saelde geneahhe 
pat hio hj're .... gas hearde 

3155 ede walfylla wonn . . 

hildes egesan hy6o 

haf mid heofon rece swealh (?) 

Geworhton ]?^ Wedra le6de 

hlsew on hliSe, se was he4h and br4d, 

3160 wseg-liSendum wide gesyne, 

and betimbredon on tyn dagum 
beadu-rdfes b^cn : bronda hetost 
wealle beworhton, sw^ hj^t weorSllcost 
fore-snotre men findan mihton. 

3165 Hi on beorg dydon b6g and siglu, 

eall swylce hyrsta, swylce on horde aer 
niS-hydige men gennmen hiifdon ; 
forldton eorla gestre6n eorSan healdan, 
gold on gre6te, pser hit mi gen lifaiS 



3170-3184.J BEOWULF. 99 

3170 cldiim swil unnvt, swd hit ceror was. 

]>X ymbc hltew riotlan hiklc-de6re, 

tifielingii beam ealra twelfa, 

woldon ceare cwi8an, kyiiing moenan, 

word-gyd wivcan and ymb wer sprccan, 
3175 ealitodau eorl-scipe and his ellen-weorc 

dugu5um demdon, swA, hit ge-defe l)iS, 

]nit mon his wine-dryhten wordum herge, 

ferhSiim fre6ge, ' ])onne he for6 scile 

of lic-haman Icene weorSan. 
3180 SwCi begnornodon Gcdta le6de 

hlAfordes hryrc, heorS-genedtas, 

cwiedon Jjiit he woere woriild-cyning 

mannum mildust and mon-pwcerust, 

le6dum ItSost and lof-geornost. 



APPEE"DIX. 



The Attack in Finnsbueg * 

*' nas byrnaS nsefre." 

HleoSrode f»a liea6o-geong C3aiing : 
" Ne ]ns ne daga^ edstan, ne her draca ne fle6get5, 
" ne her ]nsse healle hornas ne b3'rna^, 
5 " ac f^r forS bera'S, fugelas singa^, ^ 

" gylleS graeg-hama, gftS-wudu hl3'nDe'S, 
*' scj-ld scefte oncwyS. Nu scyneS pes m6na 
" waSol under wolcnum ; no TirisaS wed-dseda, 
*' ])e ]?isne folces nl5 fremman willaS. 

10 "Ac onwacnigeaS nu, wigend mine, 
" hebbaS e6wre handa, hicgeaS on ellen, 
" wmnaS on orde, wesa^ on mdde ! " 
pd kvks monig gold-hladen ]?egn, gyrde hine his 

swurde ; 
]>k t6 dura eodon drilitlice cenipan, 

15 SigeferS and Eaha, hjTa sweord getugon, 
and at 65rum durum Ordlilf and GuSl^f, 
and Hengest sylf ; hwearf liim on Mste. 
p^ git G^rulf GftSere sty rode, 
])'di hie sw^ fre6lic feorh forman siSe 

20 t6 l^sere liealle durum liyrsta ne bseran, 
nu hyt niSa heard ^nyman wolde : 
ac he friign ofer eal undearninga, 
de6r-m6d hilleS, hwd ])k duru lie61de. 
"SigeferS is min nama (cwaS he), ic eom Secgena 

le6d, 

* See V. 1069 seqq. 



25-48.] BEOWULF. 10;^ 

25 ^'wrccca wide cdb. Fela ic wedna gebad, 

*Mieardra liilda ; pe is gyt her witod, 

" sw[i(Ser ]m sylf t6 me secean wylle." 

pa wiis on wealle wiil-slihta gehlyn, 

sceolde c^lod bord ceniim on handa 
30 bc^n-helm berstan. Buruh-pelu dynede, 

65 ])at at pjere g(i^e G^rulf gecrang, 

ealra arrest eorS-bCiendra, 

GClSklfes sunn ; ymbe liine g6dra fela 

hwearf lacra hraew. Hriifn wandrode 
35 sweart and sealo-brAn ; swurd-le6nia st6d 

swylce eal Finns-bnruli fyrenn waeie. 

Ne gefragn ic noefre wurMicor at wera liilde 

sixtig sige-beorna sel gebaeran, 

ne naefre swdnas swetne medo s^l forgj'ldan, 
40 Jjonne Hniife guidon his hiig-stealdas. 

Hig fuhtou fif dagas, swA hyra nfm ne fe61 

driht-gesi(5a, ac hig |>d duru he61don. 

pa gewat him wimd hiileS on wilg gangan, 

saede pat his byrne ilbroeen w^re, 
45 here-sceorpnm hror, and eac wits his helm j;yi'l. 

pa hine s6na fragn folces hyrde, 

hil pa wigend hyra wunda genaeson 

o^be hwaSer psera hyssa 



UBRAXXXatilM 





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